Shelter tries to help abused child brides
In disturbing video images, a 14-year-old girl is purportedly being flogged. She is alleged to have run away from a forced marriage in a remote village.
Just as disturbing to Dr. Sima Samar, chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission? "The other sad part I have to say was the reaction of the people," she says. "The lack of sensitivity of the people."
The video was given to Samar's Human Rights Commission. She says police promised her they'd prosecute the man, but so far nothing despite the country's laws that ban not just forced marriages but matrimony for girls under 16.
Many men, Samar says, including some government officials just don't get it.
"They still think that women is the property of the men and they should be treated how they want," she explains.
Samar was Afghanistan's first government Minister for women but was pushed aside for being too outspoken. Little has changed since then.
"It's 8 years," she says. "We have new system in the country and new government in the country; they should have been more pro-active on these issues."
But the central government has a lot of political issues to deal with, primarily making peace with the Taliban, and needs support from the conservative outer provinces.
No one has an exact figure exactly how many girls are forced into marriage. Estimates vary as high as 60 percent or more and attitudes here are so engrained that one government minister was recently reported as saying shelters that try to help these girls and women are an evil.
At one shelter in Kabul, they deal with the fallout of these everyday attitudes about women.
"Since January alone we've had 115 cases of forced or underage marriages," says Manizha Naderi, with the Women for Afghan Women organization who runs the shelter.
Sukaini is typical of the recent cases. She is 15 years old now but was 13 when her family forced her to marry her 45-year-old cousin.
She says that her husband shaved her head and threatened to kill her and drop her body in a well. So she says she ran away.
Sukaini is one of the lucky ones. The shelter is helping her get a divorce. She says she doesn't want to marry again, but just get the education she never had.
But even at this shelter, not everyone can be helped.
One of the newest arrivals is a 15-year-old girl who ran away from a forced marriages. Within hours of arriving at the shelter, several parliamentarians called the shelter to demand she sent back to her family. At the shelter, though, they fear if they do that, she'll be killed.
Police put her in a juvenile detention facility for some time, but prosecutors authorized her return to the shelter as of now.
But the shelter's problems are only just beginning.
"The family has said that they are definitely going to take her back and that means even if they have to bring the whole province to stage a demonstration in front of our doors they'll do it," says Naderi. "... We have about 60 women in our shelter right now and 22 children. So it's not just her safety - I have all these other people to worry about as well."
The shelter is powerless, no one to defend them. In the city as in the countryside, she says, too many people sit back and do nothing. And that's all it takes.
• Here are some organizations helping women that are part of CNN's Impact Your World project:
Women for Afghan Women
Women for Women International
Vital Voices Global Partnership
Related: Afghan widows struggle for survival
Related: 'Shaming' her in-laws costs 19 year old her nose, ears
Related: Officials say numbers of child brides in Iraq growing
this video seems fake – how can she stand so still if she's being hit so hard – she should have fallen down by now. THAT BEING SAID I HATE THE BLOODY TALIBAN AND ALL FUNDAMENTAL CONSERVATIVE MUSLIMS – MAY THEY BURN IN HELL. i myself am a muslim and pride myself on being LIBERAL AND NORMAL; these bloody fundamentalists, uneducated buggers have given all of us a bad name and made our lives hell. I have personally been at the receiving end of condemnation from these conservative hypocrites who made my life miserable because i wore sleeveless shirts. and worse than the men are the women – they are the ABSOLUTE WORST. i am ashamed to be pakistani and ashamed of being a muslim woman in today's day and age. i love islam, i hate these morons who have destroyed the credibility of my religion.
obviously she has no father or brothers, because the husband would be gone from this planet if she did
What a worthless POS that man is.
Just a bunch of primitive idiots living in a primitive society imposing their will on someone weaker than them. They resolve problems through physical abuse, raping and killing – in the name of their god. They will never evolve, they will never change, they will never listen to reason. You can only hope that as many innocents escape as humanly possible.
sad, crude, and cynical comments Patrick, but absolutely 100% correct.
Why are we even letting them run their own country? I say raise an American flag over there and let our people run the show-that will be the only way things will improve
Why dont we go viking and just take all of the women? They are really exotic looking under the blanket burqua thingy.
Seriously... kill the men and run off with the women. We'll have them watching Opra in no time!
Why should we care about forced marriages in Afghanistan? That's their way of life for hundreds of years. That wont change no matter how they beat their women. If those women don't like it they should migrate somewhere else.
The US is there to eliminate the Taliban and NOT to change the way of life for people that want to remain in the 4th century.
Wrong! we are there to bring democracy and liberate the poor and downtrodden.If we dont try to improve their lives we will never defeat the taliban.
And this is the culture that we're sacrificing American lives to save? Huh? Why are we always supporting the backward regimes? Lets kick our oil habit and keep our military home. Our schools and general infrastructure are falling apart and where's our money going? To fight these oil wars. I voted for Obama for real change. Not much has changed.
Hey Crisjan, just ask Africa how harmless children are...welcome to the fringes of civil society. Only far removed from the reality of resource and power grabbing can one make such a distinction with any conviction. When your nation is the richest of the rich even the poor have it okay. Easy to loose perspective on the brutality of human nature when things come easily.
Check out www. Rawa .com. I went there to search for the abuse wives, but I also found something very disturbing. How the US troops attacked innocent high school students and one mother lost three of her sons to the US troops. My husband went to Iraq twice but I am still very disturbed about how we think we are all high and mighty as Americans and kill children in Mexico and Afghanistan. Yes the guys look a little older, I guess their beards and stuff, but nothing the less were only high school students.
They marry off their girls, and send the boys to die so the old men can continue #$%^ing the girls
I see white people taking video's from Nikons and Olympia's... Afghans are not white, mostly they do not own such devices but are available.
The truth is Afghans were much more happy before all the foriegn invasion of Russia, dictator goverment: Taliban and now US. Let them deal with thier problem, let us bring our children and friends back home, make a deal with the Powerful party there "You don't attack us, You leave us alone, we will leave you alone".
Thats the only way how we can get peace.
As Gandhi said: "An eye for an eye makes the world blind", Let's treat our enemies with love. Do we want freedom or do we want to give punishment?
There is lot of state grown terrorism (terrorism funded by US to fool American's)
As Marthin Luter once said "Jesus gave me the message, Gandhi gave me the way".
Please let us bring our soldiers back home
It is clear from the video that the girl was not ‘flogged’, but simply publically reprimanded for embarrassing the family. Different stroke for different folks they say. I know quite a few American teenagers that could use one of these floggings and would actually deserve it.
There are various things to be known. Islam is the only religion which gives maximum right and status to woman. I am doing a Job and my wife is home maker and we are living a happy life Alhamdulillah. Few days back my wife said that you should start giving me pocket money every month. I said okie I will give you this much money every month but she demanded more. I have some dream and fully interested to save money to start my own business. I was not ready to give her more money every month. She showed my some islamic literature and scripture about the pocket money to be given to woman apart from food and cloth. I thought there must be some link and Islamic literature of the rigth of Man. I did google a lot. What I found is – The largest sacrifice is – when a woman leaves her home for you after marriage then this is the biggest sacrifice. Bride is not bound to cook the food even and this is the groom responsibility to arrange food for her and if bride cooks the food for husband then she is doing well for thereafter. As per the Islam a woman is the best creature of the God. Idea is that, I could not find any reference from Islamic literature to show to my wife in fact I got agreed to pay her more pocket money.... Even I have not thought about so much right of woman in Islam. I would suggest every body to read Islamic literature before making any comment about that. I saw the video and really criticize such hatred face of the society. On the second hand I doubt the authenticity of the Vedio. I am surprised as the sound of whip is very large but the 13 year old girl does not lay down after getting hit by hunter. Eevn If some body hit me a hunter like that then on every hit I will fall down but the girl is standing firmly so it looks like the shooting of the movie... God knows the reality....
i very appalled at tjhis. its sickening.forcing a young girl to marry a man 4 times her age..... these people are so backward
Why are our soldiers dying in the Third World Dump. Bring our guys home and leave these low lives to destory the country. They will never change if we don't leave now the US will be there for the next 100 years. Thanks W.
Look at the picture.. the stick is very thin and her clothes very thick... but in other cases maybe reverse.
But indeed, it's a backward culture which will never change. The country is really very unfortunate to exist there, really bad luck in the whole creation! With all the cruelty they can eat dust and rocks of their mountains!
For some of the Musims trying to defend themselves. I am a Muslim you treat women badly everywhere, you don't even shake hands with women, you force them to cover themselves or they get beaten up once back in the house. 2 women is equal a man. How could you say this is not Islam. This is written all over the Hadith and quran that you can beat your wife if she does not listen to you. Women in most backward Islamic countries ie: Iran can't even travel alone. Stop lying to people and show your true face. I am fed up all women are fed up but we are forced.
i totally agree. There is a lot of positive potrayal by Muslims in these threads. However the truth of the matter is Islam encourages men to disrespect women and keep them suppressed. Just look at Mohammeds life, his marriages and his wars and killing to spread the religion. Wake up Islam followers and admit the truth. Don't try to sugar-coat it.
What these people don't see is that the total subjugation and abuse of women hurts them, too. It's why these societies stopped making progress. If some of them didn't have oil, they would be nowhere.
Look at Afghanistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia...The truth is staring people right in the face, yet they spin that we don't see what is literally before our very eyes.
Women treated as chattel, and somehow that is supposed to bring glory to God? Naw, that just keeps power in the hands of men. It's legion, it's obvious, and it's depressing viewing from the west. As a woman, this breaks my heart.
Sammy and Raman thank you for speaking up about the truth. It can't have been easy for you ... are you safe to say these things? I hope you have had no threats.
Sorry this is real Islam all over the world. This is not happening only in Afganistan. Look at iran, Pakistan, India, somalia, Yeman, Thailand, saudi arabia.....
In western society these things happen very rarely and when they are caught they are punished. So stop comparing.
Bubba this is not culture, ignorance, violence against the children, culture means other things.
Where in the Koran, the Muslim bible, does it say you can intermarry family( such as 1st cousin)? Where does it say in the Koran, you can cut off a woman's ears, lips for disobeying you? Where does it say you can marry a woman, err girl, age 13, in an arranged marriage against her consent? Where does it say you can marry a young girl, and you are 25,35, 45 years older? We call it pedophilia, and you sick people do it daily and believe you are righteous? If this is the Muslim religion, I want NO part of it. You sick people are wrong, and just a step above animals, which you treat women as.
It is NOT pedophilia! It is ephebophilia! You are just jealous because you are old and flabby, and not even the dog would lick you!
Ah the glory of Islam.
So what! It's their culture. Let the live in the 4th century if they want. You all should mind your own business.
All those "ELDERS" sat and watched so why should we interfere??
because protacting humans from animals is our moral responsibility.
just a lil thing called morality. You're either heartless or a coward and the world needs neither so please don't reproduce.
Fourteen is not a "child" in those countries. Those "children" are far more like adults than teenagers are here in the USA. In fact they are adults. Beating them with sticks, however, is immoral.
14 yr olds are adults? Obviously you are not a doctor or a father, but thanks for playing.
As a Muslim, I am appalled to see this barbaric act. At the same time I see lots of ignorant comments here indicating that this practise is from Islam. Islam does NOT have forced or even arranged marriages. Those stuff are cultural. For example, in Indo-Pakistan region, marriages are arranged whether they are Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Christian,..etc. As someone from a 100% Muslim nation (there are only two in the world. One of them is Saudi Arabia - and am not from there), I can tell you that this barbric act is a pathetic state of affairs in some cultures, at the same time, people who are ignorant of Islam make judgments on Islam based on these barberic acts. Corrupt governments, nepotism and tribalism that run more sophisticated than terrorist organizations are to be blamed for these. That is, the corrupt governments have their supposed "legitimate authority" to "eliminate" anyone who dares to speak against any actions they practice. Hence, the common man has neither the ability nor the will power to change things for the fear of repraisal. This is exactly, what Dr. King explained. Conformity by the oppressed makes men be opressed forever! May God Almighty save all of us and make us all use our brains and stop barbaric acts that are cultural, in the name of religion!
Prophet Muhammed married a 6 year old girl. So it's absolutely legal. Human rights and west can only wait and watch, we can only sympathise with the children for their suffering. Islam is the brain,motivation and power behind this evil. I think Muslims are the only one who can stand against this, they must protest and issue fatwas against child marriages. But in doing so they would go against the act of their prophet Muhammed..so they have to choose..
There is no proof that the Prophet married someone who was 9 years old. This is a BIG LIE that comes from the FAKE and FABRICATED books outside of the Quran. Most muslims blindly believe in these books and treat them as their religious source. Quran says marriage has to be based on absolute free will (4:19) and the couple must have a mutual understanding and attraction towards each other (4:24).
Time for these people to leave the 8th century. And to stop trying to drag the rest of us back there.
This is what we need America to get our children to do their homework.
I would like to take a metal baseball bat and with it shave his stinking beard off. Then take a rusty blunt knife and then turn him into a eunick.
It is not for the West to pass judgement on culture or tradition in these lands!
Thank You! Finally a voice of reason.
When the west has it right and the culture being judged is in the dark ages, it absolutely is for the west to judge.
That's hilarious.
yeah, and let those silly Nazi people over in Germany take over Europe and kill and enslave millions. It is not for us to judge? Come back to the real world brownie. Moron.
Fortunately the Spaniards passed judgement on the cannibalistic religion of the Aztecs and erradicated that way of life, otherwise it would be pretty messy over here.
Am i the only one that noticed this. That girl took those whoopings like a F@#$@NG SOLDIER! I would have have writhing around in my own urine and feces crying in agony. well done girl!
She's wearing a lot of clothes to cushion the blows! You people are blowing it way out of proportion! They are use to being treated like that! It's considered a display of affection in their culture!
Bob,
BULLSH@#*_T
This is not abt religion.. This is a culture issue.. May Allah save this women.. N may Allah open this men minds to the correct way of islamic life..
My Current Event Mrs. Adams
With those pot headed tribal leaders US trowing money out of the window and wasting Americans life's for nothing. It's nonsense. Those human looks like animals never will be reeducated, never will give up their tradition. Just move the handful people out from Afghanistan then burn that rat infested place. Believe it or not, that's the only chance to bring change for that cursed land.
omg they have rats?
we are spinning our wheels in these countries. Bring all US personel home and leave these fools to thier primative societies. If they're not going to come into the 21st century with the rest of the planet why are we "helping" them?
Our taxes could be better spent on deserving AMERICANS! These terrorists can be dealt with remotely. No More US dead!
I have a different view with the same end result.
I think it's not that much different than someone getting "paddled", lets say, for not dressing how someone wants them to when the go to the prom like in Texas and Alabama. It's sick really and the teens there are how old? 16, 17, and 18? I don't believe ANYONE should ever be beaten on the ass for any reason so I agree somewhat with most people here that think this is appauling. To clairfy, my issue is the double standard that works in society. We like to call 14 year old "girls" or "boys" when it suits the agenda. There was a case in March in Janesville, Wis. where a 14-year-old girl faces "adult" charges in the overdose death of a 13-year-old boy for instance. There are many many other cases in the country as well. I do not believe she should be charges as an adult, well, because she isn't one.
What I am saying is, we need to clacify what a child is and keep it at that and we need to make the rule that nobody should be beaten on the ass like this for whatever reason, otherwise, all the words spoken about the issue are really quite hollow.
Big difference between beating someone with a stick to within an inch of their lives and a much needed disciplinary paddle. Get a clue about context buddy.
When, oh when will all this madness end? I'm looking forward to Dec. 21, 2012. But, this too might be just another one of those shams to let me think that mankind can be done away with. Oh the horror to have to live one more day with such wickedness. I'm wary and drained of any bit of joy at this moment. This evil has got to end.
This has nothing to do with religion, it's cultural, in fact in many villages around the world, especially Africa these atrocities still occur. The men try to use whatever religion they practice as an excuse(how about right here in Utah), but that's all it is, or why else does it happen among all religious sects from Islam, Christianity to Hinduism? Men have the desire to control and since they are physically stronger, they often take advantage of this. These places are a 150 years behind us. Do we need to remember what it was like for women here in the USA back in the 1800's, and Europe? Earlier than the 1800's it was pretty much a nightmare for every single woman excpet in the middle east, the middle east used to be ahead in womens rights unitl they STOPPED following the correct Islam.
Did they legally flogged women in the 1800s in the US?
The only solution for such primitive understanding of Islam is found in " THE SECOND MESSAGE OF ISLAM" any one can read this very important book written by the Sudanese Mr. MAHMOUD MOHAMED TAHA.. He is the only and the one who predicted the new era of the World and Islam..
Thanx – Mohamed Khartoum – Sudan
Can't you just give us the cliffnotes?
but I'm in the middle of reading the Twilight series!
Is this the same Sudan that has killed 1.5 million infidels in the name of Islam? If they put in jail a British teacher for allowing a student to name a teddy bear "Muhammad", what would they do with someone that really wants to alter Islam?
There aught to be laws in Afghanistan that punishes severely the parents of these children who are forced to marry! The coalition should force the government to enforce laws prohibiting such human rights violations or stop training the Afghan security force and not leave our bases for patrol against the Taliban and let them fight this war!
Dan... That would happen, if this were a perfect world. However, this isn't a perfect world, and we screwed the pooch getting into this conflict. If we just stayed on our bases, and never went out to engage the Taliban, even for 1 day, we'd loose a full week's worth of work in this war. Imagine if we stayed inside the base for a whole month, or longer? However, I agree with you, we need to punish the parents. However, why should we be enforcing these laws in countries whenever we can't even hold our own parent's Stateside accountable for their actions.
I have never mentioned this before, but as a Marine I was a Military Policeman. I have seen PLENTY of instances where children, and not like toddlers or older, but BABIES have been found dead, dying or comatose. And it was all because the parents were on World of Witchcraft, or Facebook, or Myspace, or on the Phone, or Watching TV, doing everything EXCEPT watching THEIR child. Why should we hold any other country's parents less accountable when we fail to do so here stateside?
I agree, parents should always be watching their children, but to force them to marry their 45 year old uncle is a crime against humanity!
I condemn on behalf of my muslim community every act of violence against innocent people. I tell you that Allah is nothing but the same as God. Taliban are not true Muslim. What ever they do is not Islam.
You say God and Muslim say Allah. In Islam, you are commanded to take care of your neighbors regardless of their religion.
There is nothing by force in Islam. If you kill a single innocent person, it is equal to killing the whole humanity, it is a capital offense in Islam.
Please don't assume that Taliban are Muslims and the kind of Jihad that they declare has anything to do with Islam.
Please understand that Prophet Mohammed never told Muslims to do what Taliban are doing.
I never find a single American being rude to me. I never saw a sight of hatred on their face. This is because they know me and I have proven to them that Muslims and Taliban are way different.
PRMS... I agree with you. 100% I have GREAT friends who are Islamic. They were born overseas and came here, and they're really nice people. I wish I could lie to you, probably some of the most generous people in the world I have met were Islamic. But, just like any other statistic, you are represented by the screwed up 10%. Those 10% are leading the news pages, with bombs, and gunshots, and civillian deaths, and all sorts of fun factoids that often result in your negative publicity. Do I think we need to eradicate the species? Hell no. Do I think we need to find a way to treat those 10% who would try to control the rest like sheep, through use of violence, coersion, intimidation, and force. HELL TO THE YES.
"There is nothing by force in Islam"
Try to leave Islam. Easy here, but in an Islamic country? you'd be on death row.
Yanno, I am more concered with the lack of protection at this shelter. NO ONE has bothered to comment on that yet. These girls (who aren't allowed outdoors without a male escort) risked their lives to get to safety. And really, all the man must do is walk into the shelter, grab the girl, and drag her out kicking and screaming. I may have been a simple Jarhead in the past, and never could pick my battles, but if there were ever a reason I'd want to pick up my M4 and do some damage again, protecting that shelter would be the perfect reason to do so. I'm sorry, I grew up with some kind of morals and standard, and it may be cultural to treat these women like absolute dirt, and claim them as property, but I believe that once they seek help, SOMEONE, United Nations, UNICEF, SOMEONE should step in and make these girls dissappear out of Afghanistan. Where they go, I'm not sure, but I am not a policy maker, that would be up to the old guys in the suits who get paid six figures a year to figure out.
agree with you 100%.
Marine, A very hearty amen. Thanks for your service. These individuals need to be put out of our misery.
well said Marine. Thanks for your service and Semper Fi
Former Marine, I too thank you for your service. I agree with your post as well, it is terrible and disgusting that the shelter and the women and children there remain so open to assault.
These "men" are EVIL. They need to recognize women as blessings and cherish them as such. If all the women in the world disappeared, there would be a lot of sore behinds before the human race is wiped out. If all the men in the world disappeared, the human race would continue with just a little science by splitting and joining the cells of two women (course all the offspring’s would be women). Regardless – NOBODY OWNS ANYBODY – that is EVIL. I will look for a way to help these women, and I can’t wait till karma catches up with the jerks perpetrating these atrocities to the women of their culture. All humans deserve dignity and that should be enforced by all nations! Sick son’s of bast*@%$!
It is sad when this happens they ask for out side help.
And when other countries help, they become the target of hate. It becomes locals vs foreigners.
It breaks my heart to watch videos like this. BUT WE MUST LEAVE THESE PEOPLE TO THEIR FATE.
Islam world is behind the rest of the world in terms of cultural revolution, but given enough time IT WILL HAPPEN.
That would be nice Dave, except that the Islamic plan and order is to convert the rest of the world. That's why the United States needs to stop bowing to the demands of muslims in our country. I agree though, leave it there, too bad they don't want to.
Heres the deal these people have survived for over 5000 years im pretty sure their way of life works perfectly fine. Also if Muhammad was more of a womens rights guy then most people believe the only reason he took extra wives was cause he HAD TO their husbands ended up killed so he allowed people to take extra wives only if they were going to stave without husbands.
pathetic loser, your version of history is almost as crooked as obama's. the whole sick religion needs to be dealt a blow.
Sick Sick!!!!!
These people has no knowledge of ISLAM they call them self MUSLIM but they are not even close to ISLAM,
its sick and dissgusting what they do and how the treat women in the name of ISLAM, God will punish them soon or later.
What has Islam done for the world? Seriously, have there been any great scientific discoveries or life-changing inventions to come out of the muslim world that i dont know about? Its just sad that the people who gave us Algebra and our alphabet are now slaves to the biggest joke of religion on the planet. I'm so sick of everyone feeling the need to protect Islam when it has done nothing for the planet and impedes social and technological advancement for a third of the planet.
"What has Islam done for the world?" Are you serious? After the fall the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century CE, it was the ISLAMIC WORLD that preserved and copied down the ancient Greek and Roman texts. The European copies of these texts were being burned by the thousands by educated members of European society for not agreeing with Church dogma. The Muslims were preserving books at a time when most European rulers were burning them. The largest library in England during the Dark Ages was just over 200 volumes, most of it religious works (but some medical texts) owned by a man named Bald (ever hear of Bald's leechbook?). By contrast, the lowliest libraries in the Middle East at the time could boast thousands of books and manuscripts written by various authors including Greeks, Romans, Jews, Muslims, and even some East Asian texts that were brought to the region through trade. It is because of the efforts of these ISLAMIC scholars that Western Civilization was able to rise from the ashes of the Dark Ages. When the Crusaders invaded the Holy Land for the first time, the re-discovered the classical texts of Homer, Aristotle, Pythagoras and Galen and discovered for the first time the works of various Jewish, Muslim, and East Asian scholars. These texts, simply put, formed the foundation of everything that came out of Western Civilization during the Renaissance–theories about science, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, human nature, history, classical tales like "The Odyssey", Plato, Galen, Aristotle, and others–all of these building blocks of Western Civilization were safeguarded and even improved upon (in the case of mathematics, science, and astrology) by Islamic scholars. Before you ask such a stupid question again maybe you should take History 101 and save others from your ignorance.
To every one who are blaming this on ISLAM, please look at your back door. So is that mean all of you fall in this category ?
http://www.now.org/issues/violence/stats.html#endref2
Please Think before you write and read and get some knowledge before you open your mouth and sound like dumb !
it sad to see that religion as brainwashed peoples, there s some fantastic peoples there that are intelligent as you and me but blind by religion and politics.
Sadly enough,the same thing is very much true in this country where the people are so brainwashed with all this right-wing mumbo-jumbo and constantly being whipped up into this right-wing lynch-mob mentality!
Its disgusting to see these people what the government doing against these people. WE paying our tax money to allow these kind of acts ?
I hope and wish they can put U.S Army to portect these children and women from crazy people..
Then take your tax dollars, buy yourself a ticket and get your butt over there and help out. They are not a western style democracy. Quit calling for my brothers in arms to die for this mentality. Go yourself!
really?!?!? You gonna pay for that Sami? Look I'm as sympathetic as anybody but I think our tax dollars could be better spent dealing with our own problems, like I dunno maybe.....the OIL SPILL!!!!!!
us propaganda to justify the illegal wars. of course this is inhuman but this happen everyday in the muslim world, who are we to judge other nation.
Just kind of heads up, beating children is wrong. There's nothing relativistic about this.
if you ever go there you will see how uneducated the rural areas are. i hate to say it but it is so sad how they treat the children, women and a stranger who is Afghan. there is a lot of inbreeding, wifebeating and many other things the CIVILIZED WORLD would be disgusted at. It is just a plain shame we allowed the new country to be established as an ISLAMIC REPUBLIC. the whole place is corrupt especially the top players i would say the government officials but many are just the nepotist of a ruling persons. it is a tribe thing and we outta play COWBOYS and INDIANS circa 1492 – 1900 in other words shoot every afghan who picks up or has a gun or any other weapon larger than a pebble no questions asked no other reason needed.
It's not about Muslim or Islam. It's about backwardness and lack of civil development. Before the Christian world got industrialized same ugly things happened too. Like Bill Maher put: both Bible and Curan contains element that should not be interpreted literally. The difference is that in America, you won't get your hands cut for working on Sundays. So that's not a religious problem - it's a development problem.
WRONG! Go to college or maybe read a newspaper Josh. It is most certainly a religious issue, as well as cultural, economic, and social.
SICKENING!!! These are people that seem to be stuck several hundred years in the past. These men are so insecure they have to keep complete control of their women. Very very sad. These aren't real men.....these are pathetic little boys....not boys...animals. They can't even be called Human!!!
Your comment is an insult to animals.....these people are subhuman and should be eliminated.
My thoughts exactly re. all these people calling them animals!!
But this is a cultural thing. They twist their relgious texts to justify their way of life. Not excusing any of this, but yes, it is as if these people live hundreds of years in the past compared to those of us in the West. Young girls were married off against their wills and a man had every right to beat his wife. As for Dr. Samar's comment "The other sad part I have to say was the reaction of the people," she says. "The lack of sensitivity of the people." – of course they have no concept of sensitivity. These people have a hard life we can barely imagine and they ARE hardened. The country is also vast and mainly rural. A new government in place in the capital has no impact on their daily lives and life continues as it always has. We just didn't know about it until now.
In the name of Allah
I've seen worse treatment to women in the USA .. Leave both Iraq and Afghanestan (^_^)
No you haven't. You have never heard of a girl bride having her ears and nose cut off because she ran away from her repugnant old creeper of a husband. These people truly are no better than animals.
I'm calling BS!!!! Clearly you have no idea what you are talking about
You've seen worse? Where do you live, in a Federal prison?
Coming to the U.S. SOON.
coming to the US soon...wow... ya because women here are beaten or even killed when the husband hits them... ok! w/e you say.
I think he is refering to the radicalization of Christianity and other religions in America, they are not there yet but whenever I hear the word "values" I shudder thinking that someones rights are about to be taken.
maybe we should adopt the afghan way....they sure have something going for them.
It's funny to see all these stuffs going around the world with total visibility of Human Right people and they clolsed their eyes and pretend they don't see and they don't know but they have the audacity to accuse the US of human right violation about the treatments of those lunactics muslims and enemy combattants under US care. Good organization!
Why dont we just pull out of both countries and let them kill each other... we have seen the lives of 8000+ brave young men and women lost to illegal wars, neither of which has made us safer, just 1 Trillion in Debt...
If the Afghan Gov, and the Iraq Gov, as well as the Muslim Imams dont care about children; it is time that all civil countries walk away and let them kill each other.... The Western Countries have done enough !
I agree with Chuck. That's the bottom line - we've spent too much in lives and dollars in that backward country for no return. Why not wean ourselves of our oil addiction?
no oil in Afghanistan professor, just a bunch of opium growing hicks still living in the 15th century. You can't help these people because they can't even help themselves.
Yeah, right on! Bring the soldiers(and the war) back to New York City where it started. Then it will be our civilians(and your relatives) who are getting killed by accident.
We were in the Middle East way before 9/11. I suggest reading "Blowback."
I agree 100% with chuck. Let's pull our young men and women back home. Give those countries the choice of their arms, and... let them have a go at each other. We are in financial disaster, because of these senseless wars. We are never going to change those people, they have their culture and religion. They do not need us. So.. why are we waisting our lives, money and time?
It sounds like an under ground system is in order. By that, I mean a series of homes for these young women to hide. This would be more effective. Having them constantly on the move, would make them harder to locate. A place outside the country as a final destination, would be helpful. A woman can also make it very uncomfortable for a husband.
How can a beaten woman make it hard for a husband?
The husband has to sleep sometime >:)
An idiotic idea that sounds like from the spy movie. Hope you are not suggesting that those women should learn trail detecting techniques, evasive maneuvers, clandestine moves, and the art of appearance disguise. And hope you are not suggesting the organizations should be building the network of hidden communication and places. That would be the last thing they need.
Underground railroad...look it up
I think that this is appalling and barbaric and the Afgan government should band this behavior. This is just a means to control women and keep them barefoot and pregnant. Shame on the men of that country SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.
I hate my people and my country. God not bless all these people. I hate to say I am afghan.
they will never learn from the past. God should punish them for ever.
Masood,
You learned. That is very important. Others can, too.
Thanks for vote of confidence and pat on the back, after all, where the heck would we the Third World be without colonisers who have determined it their divine duty to carry the White Man's Burden.
Zeeshan, spot on.
I love how we still act like these people are good people and that these are just "extremes."
Beating a child because she did not want to marry some clowin in the village...yeah. What a shame it would be to lose this entire group of people off the face of the earth.
Yet, somehow, this will be America's fault.
At least you have a heart and a head on your shoulders. i am sorry that these people are giving you a bad name. If more people like you spoke out, then our perceptions would change, but, alas, you are in the minority. Peace be with you human brother.
At least YOU know difference from right and wrong. may god bless YOU.
may god bless YOU.
Don't hate your country or your people. Hate ignorance, the lack of education and blind faith.
I must say, that you are very intolerant person. It may not be your way but who are you to force your opinion on others?
Guys, just watch 'The Stoning of Soraya M. ', then you will understand how horrible these Muslim men are. I hope muslim women will learn and stop bearing any more kids. So, that there will not be any more muslims in the world and it will be a peacefull world.
@ Roger Vincent – What about the "opinions" of these young girls? Why should YOU have the right to push your "opinions"/beliefs on them? THEY believe that this is wrong and these young women are MUSLIM women. NOT WESTERNERS. God bless ALL of you – including the ignorant/stubborn. HE will hopefully shed his light and love upon you and help you ALL to LOVE and RESPECT one another.
This seems like an obvious troll to me, likely another hateful American who knew that this would incite a positive response. Not only is this an unrealistic response, but consider that ~1.8% of the afghan population has internet access. Don't be so gullible, and don't tell this man "god bless you", regardless of his legitimacy, for hating his country and his people.
A lot of the educated people I work with (am in science) from India and Pakistan who have chosen to live in the U.S. readily acknowledge the flaws in their own country due to really bad cultural policy and they even admit to being embarrassed about them. I find widespread intracultural ignorance and lack of knowledge about other countries among U.S. citizens very embarrassing and sometimes I'm embarrassed to be a U.S. citizen. This poster is likely one of the few educated Afghans living here who is not afraid to admit his/her feelings. Not everyone defends obsurdity just because it's the motherland. Don't be so shocked when people speak out.
I am not "shocked" that somebody would speak out in any sense, but I find it far more likely that this is a troll. Judging by the amount of shallow comments, the likelihood is far greater that somebody would pose as an ashamed Afghan citizen. I fully admit I could be wrong, too, but I am not convinced this is the case. Regardless, the fact remains that this man wants god to punish these people forever. I find their actions disgusting, but hoping that a deity punishes them forever is only slightly less disappointing.
How do you know he's IN Afghanistan? Even if he's in America or somewhere else, he could still refer to Afghanistan as "my country".
Obviously, in which case you can disregard the internet statistic. That's all.
paranoid much?
can't imagine that there are afghan immigrants here in the states with a laptop? Why couldn't someone be ashamed of his own culture and admit it? It's not like America has all the answers and we don't have skeletons in our closet. Ever heard of FLDS? Ever heard of the Catholic Church? Slavery?
Since when is "inviting positive responses" a "hateful" thing?
It appears the only thing that would make you happy is more people railing against muslims, calling them peodephiles and backwards...would that be positive in your eyes?
I agree 100%, smells like a troll.
Hyperbole much? You completely missed my point, by a mile. I absolutely don't discount that it could be a legitimate post... if it is, that's great that he's speaking out, cool (not so great that he wishes eternal damnation upon people, but that's neither here nor there). My assertion was that it is more likely that a crappy american citizen would jump at the chance to posit that "even THEY hate themselves" and pose as this guy Mahood. That's all, so sorry that you had to jump into a galaxy of irrational conclusions about me being an ignorant American that hates muslims, a completely unwarranted claim.
What the hell is the matter with you. What a horrible thing to say. Not all Middle East residents are evil. Not all Muslims live in the Middle East and 99% of Muslims and middle easterners have hearts and compassion. Troll, indeed. Take a look in the mirror.
I understand why you may doubt it, as it is a rather shocking statement. However, Afghanistan is a little different than many places. I've dated an Afghan and I've had many Afghan friends. They all pretty much talk like Masood. I remember when the US first invaded Afghanistan, an Afghan friend of mine actually said we should nuke the country. That shocked and offended me but it was his people and he meant it. I guess when you endure the sorts of chaos, and extremism that these people have, and do it changes you.
Allison, your reply is beyond baffling. Nothing you said has any relevance in the context of this discussion, but I do agree with you 100% haha.
I know many Afghans here in the U.S. They are quite educated and know how to use a computer.
And hey, look, maybe my first post came across too strong, but maybe my point is to be aware that there ARE people who would love to pose as a "self-hating __________" to generate MORE hate. I understand that the comments section here would be a feeding frenzy of people trying to glean some self-satisfaction by crying "racist", but nothing I said deserves anything but rational debate about the likelihood of trolls. Thank you Constant1, that was the most insightful response thus far.
This is in response to Anne's comment, more than Tommy's. What surprises me is that her comment has not yet generated a response before now. Anne refers to the skeletons in America's closet. Particularly, the skeletons of FLDS, the Catholic Church, and Slavery. If I am not mistaken from the manner in which she put it, she has basically said that the FLDS and the Catholic Church are evils that are akin to the evil of Slavery. Imagine that!
The irony is that she then goes on to berate Tommy for allegedly wanting more people to rally against Muslims. Anne, your hypocrisy has no bounds, for it appears to me that you want to rally people against the FLDS and the Catholic Church the way they rallied against Slavery.
I think Tommy was merely pointing out the inconsistency and, indeed, the hypocrisy of other people saying "God Bless You" to someone that wants God to punish others. Indeed, if a person is enlightened and is truly a good person, then that person would never hope that others face the wrath of God.
Having traveled to over 40 countries, including those in the Middle East, the one thing I have learned no matter where I am is to respect the differences. One does not necessarily have to agree to these differences, for like you I agree that it is outrageous to beat a young girl in this manner. And there are certainly appropriate organizations in existence that one can support to implement change. However, the change we are hoping for is not something our nation cannot impose on another. The change has to come from within for it to be true and lasting. Sadly, nothing EVER posted on CNN here will be of consequence, and we're all wasting our time and energy here for essentially entertainment purposes. (Newsflash to all of you: OUR NEWS IS SELECTED ON IT'S ENTERTAINMENT VALUE.)
I assure you a great many feel that America is crazy (look at our high murder rates, our substandard public education system and our propensity to focus on the absurd). If Canada came down and took control of certain aspects of our nation to eliminate what they perceive to be our problems, you can bet we would be pretty resentful of Canada. We would focus more on getting rid of them than on the problems in which they came down here to fix. We are indeed blind if we think we can impose our will on other nations in the same manner.
Agreed and well said.
I hurt for you. I find it hard to understand why a people capable of self thought tolerate such abuse of women of any age. Women are not beast of burden nor are they meant to be born to be someone's property like that of a book. May be some day the cowards who believe women are property will see the light and cease the abuse. You have my best wishes masood.
hmm, Rlmnt, so what are women here much better off? granted, we have the support of the law on our side, but society still labels us in ways that are simply disgusting. just turn on the TV in any US home and the images of women portrayed are horrific. Using women as items is a common theme; marital abuse even more common (I know several woman–yes, american women–who have suffered in abusive relationships). We need to open our eyes and realize that versions of this video occur at home–and it baffles me that our men–yes, so many of them are just as cowardly– can be so passive about it.
This is what I find hard to understand.
WAKE UP
Islam is not compatible with 21st Century modernity or individual freedom. PERIOD.
What's funny is that Planet Earth doesn't seem to be compatible with the 21st century
Nor is any other religion. There is no god that punishes or rewards, and if there was, we should all fight him for our freedom.
David - Please do not lump all Muslims together. Just Tuesday and I taking a Muslim friend of my around looking for a place where she can get married to a Christian. She is from Morocco and will go there on her honeymoon but cannot get married there with her family because it is illegal for a Muslim to marry a Christian. She is one of the sweetest and most caring people you would ever hope to meet. She is an educated woman (PhD) and travels the world working for better health care for the underserved. We were discussing the different religions and I said that as long as she did not lump all Christians with the Crusaders who went to the middle east to convert the muslim pagans. We agreed!
Neither is Christianity for that matter. It isn;t Islam, all religions that state you bow to a 'god' are evil and control the minds of their followers. The Christian church was there just a few 100 years ago, beating and hanging women for witchcraft, heresy, and all sort of nonsense. So While condemning Islam, leave a little room for Christianity and a few others they have shared this trait as well
Don't just mention Islam in your comment. There is not one religion out there that is "in this century." It's all alot of b.s.
If the man in this video knew how much he didn't look like a man he looks like a crowd, some big man to hit a 14 girl makes him a real man right?? I think not I hope when your time comes you will be punish!!
I see the problem as older men going threw change of life and must have a younger girl to prop up their libibedo just as in america and threw out the world. maybe their older wifes have grown so tired and overworked they can no longer do all the work nessesary to keep their man in comfort.
Masood, everywhere in this world of ours are people are are ashamed of their citizens' behavior at one time or another.
Use your conscience and morality to teach the ignorant. You need to be proud that you are an honorable Afghan.
I haven't opportunity to watch cnn video, but americans should remember that at 14 in that country you're an adult, to our stardands the afghan code law it's very unjust, actually i agree. But please don't call 14 years old children.
The afghan government would be to pas code laws modelled on wester societies, atartuk did it, it's important the time and situation are different, Karzai need bravery that can lead through this path.
Richard, READ THE STORY...the law failed this CHILD, yes Richard, CHILD. If my hands could have reached out and intervened upon her behalf, believe me I would have!
I do not understand the part in your post about not calling a 14 yr old a child. A 14 yr old is not an adult, whether they feel differently or not. The 14 yr old still has no free will and must abide by the decisions of a much older person so they are still children even though their laws and customs say otherwise. If we are not to call them children, then what are they labeled as "beasts of burden?"
Masood, do not hate your country or people. Hatred solves nothing. Loath the system which doesn't reward for education. Do not be ashamed of beiing Afgan. I am Indian and we respect Afgan's for their courage and determination. If you are a real Afgan, determine to do everything to educate public, male and female children both. Things will change with time if you educate them.
Masood – I am Afghan too however you should not lose your pride or ever be ashamed to say where you are from because of the acts of these cowards. This indeed is very sad and troubling that this is taking place but take into account where it is occuring. What regions of Afghanistan. Many people are trying to compare this country to others and they cannot. Majority of these people are farmers, nomads, mountain people. They are not educated and if so, it is by someone from their village. Instead of being ashamed you should probably see how you can help; donate your time or money – every little bit helps.
Guys, just watch 'The Stoning of Soraya M. ', then you will understand how horrible these Muslim men are. I hope muslim women will learn and stop bearing any more kids. So, that there will not be any more muslims in the world and it will be a peacefull world. I really feel bad for these girls/women there.
hahahahah you are funny! just because some crazy guy did this and he happens to be a muslims, thenn ALLLLLL muslims are bad ! dont generalize.. his behavior has nothing to doo with religion.. the koran doesnt say that woman are obligated to marry someone they dont want..
live your religion respect others!
Never be afraid to claim who you are. Your people and their history does not define your own life. You have the power to do what you want with your own life and noone big, small, powerful, or powerless has the right to take that away from you. Fight for what you beleive in and you will always come out on top.
I agree; what is taking place is incredibly inhumane and wrong, but once we begin to educate new generations we will see a change. Trying to promote our views to elders will do nothing but revolt them. I pray for the woman of Afgan and I hope they will have refuge and happiness.
dear masood : pardon the context your about to read if it offends -many countrys that are not heavily industrialised -at times do not educate -nor teach to read there peoples -there fore -many of the peoples go by common sense -tribal cultural traditions -local govt council rule -and listen to religious /political leaders –so you are left with this result upon peoples -if uneducated and illiterate -they go by understandings handed down -the leaders must keep these understanding enforced or they lose power -no matter how obselete the traditions are <or how wrongly they are proven to be -by modern medicine or modern science with this in mind -it is proven that an undeveloped child or teenager -is not physically formed enough to produce children at early ages nor are they mentally capable of takeing care of babies adequately or handling the resposibilitys of an adult -a mature adult in mindset and in physical ability -this is the reason many children and young women -die or become injured durring childbirth -also thats why children suffere improper care and neglect because of lack of understanding in after care when the child is born -as for physical and psycological abuse -it harms adolescent brides mentally and physically some mental and physical illnesses or damages can be life long from time of damage -trauma -and if pregnant the adolessent may suffer suicidal depression or have miscarrages -so early ages -pregnancys and abuses -actually harm the mother and the child or unborn child -scientiffically -it weakens a familymember mentally and physically .wich weakens a family then in turn weakens a clan -a extended family band -then a tribe -then it weakens a nation -if all is added up in numbers and weakens future generations and off spring -the few afghans that are not effected -or permanently damaged mentally and physically -tend to be verry hearty and strong and resiliant peoples because of harsh treatments through out the generations .-afghanistan-to me would be not as strong in an indiuviduals sense because of rough conditioning -but it weakens the country by numbers -diminished numbers of physically and mentally able people and leaves many with disablitys -so its scientiffically and medically proven that harsh abuse of young women who are with child weakens a nation -so by tradition -afghanistan keeps itself week -in proven fact -by allowing this to continue -in fairness .there there own worst enemy at times by doing things like this as a accepted practice .-take care -daniel
@ Masood... you need to be the voice.. You need to step out and help others who are not willing to help themselves.. you can become revolutionary to your own cause.. or you can sit back and do nothing and let the torment and destruction happen to your fellow brothers as well as the destruction of within yourself.. in the end you have to fight for your own self preservation.. The fact that right now you understand the wrong behind what is happening is an amazing step!!!!! keep up with your belief in a better alternative, because there is one... KEEP THE FAITH!!!!!
Muslims are barbaric!
That's what the muslims want in the U.S., Sharia Law, all women cover you faces and walk behind a man, and no voting rights.
I am a USA/Turkish dual citizen! My father is Turksih and mom American and was born here, but served in the Truksih military and earned my citizen ship there as well. You cannot change thousands of years of social behavior is a short period of time wihtout breaking international and human right laws. I believe that America should leave Afganistan; let them have their wars and once that conflict is finished. Or we go in with everything we have a completely destroy any opposition. We have enough intelligence and ability to bring our troops back and concentrate on CIA intellegence to have their ears and eyes on our enemies, but we can keep our people and protect from within our bourders. Let the Taliban and their frineds get together, let them prepare to fight the Afgan government. Feel confident and let the infidels flood to their Taliban brothers. in otherwords mor and more enemies-terrorists will combine in a consolidated area. give them 3 months for example to flock to what they will feel as their chance to take over the government and a country for themselves. We should poisiton our troops and allies hidden throughout the mountains and certain locations out of Talibans sight; or adjancent countries. We could then send a couple hundred thousnd troops positioned to completely kill everysingle one. War would be over and their masses would be demloished.
Until the 3rd sentence I thought you were a democrat
As Salaamu Alaikum,
This is an obvious fake, like soo many videos are when portrying Muslims from anywhere in the world. Notice the thickness of the garment, notice how reserved the "supposely victum of the fogging was" seemed like a made for TV event, typical propaganda!
i presumed she was well prepared for the flogging , hence thick padding. too many of the men were taking videos and just hanging around.
Masood, do not hate, please understand through education, only then shall you have peace. Time can change this unfortunate situation, but it may not be in our lifetime. Please don't waste your life hating. Try to discover a way to expedite the change. May the people of Afghanistan and you be blessed with peace and understanding.
I am sure the Taliwags and western appeasers will blame America for this child's' effort to escape the pedophile she was matched with.
I thing you are a brave soul! As my name means house of poverty may you never have to expierience that. God Bless You!
not to be tooo insensitive but it didn't even look like the hits were hurting her. She had a few blankets over her while he was hitting her.
That is very sad, I am sorry for you. Inshallah, one day you will be able to say that you are proud of your people and your country.
THIS IS WRONG BUT YOU HAVE TO SEE THAT WHAT IS HAPPANING IN THE CHURCHS OF YOUR WORLD
I been there and seen similar accounts, its all for show..girls who are beat or lashed like in the video, get to wear SEVERAL layers of clothing, and rarely ever get hurt...most do not even feel it..its a show..the men do not want to harm them, they just want to set examples...which works well for hundreds of years. At least thats better lessons then Linsey lohan who gets a DUI which can kill whole families and will only stay in jail for a week...in a nice padded cell in better condictions then most budget hotels...so screw off stupid americans...travel more and get a grip, watch the video..does she look in pain, no...she is not....he hits in the same way every time...for a REASON!!! hell I use to do that when my father would whip me, for being a pain in the butt..and I cared less...get a grip bleeding hearts...if you wanna get upset about someting get upset about IRAN stoning young girls to death...thats the REAL deal...
have you never seen a woman or young girl beaten in real life. it doesn't matter what country your in, it happens.
we have shelters all over america full. so how are women better off here than there. nothing is really done to the men here either. if you press charges they come back later and do it worse if your lucky they kill you
Masood, be carefull what you say, my dear. Right now, you speak still with pain and hate in your hart, but those feelings will change in due time. If you say god should punish them forever, it means that he will also punish you forever, because you are also an Afghan. So therefor, I say, be carefull of what you say. You could see and understand things differently tommorrow. But never forget that you getting an education, means that you get a chance to change your country and the lives of many many woman. You could go back one day and teach in a school. Or be a primeminister. Allah'u'hkbar. My god bless you in many ways, sister, and open your ears, and elevate and educate your brain, and soften the pain in your hart, and plant his love and wisdom inside of it.
Masood, I understand how much shame you must feel, but be careful my friend, not to become that thing which you hate. By that I mean don't hate your countrymen, don't hate your heritage. While I don't condone and would not tolereate the evil of any man, I must still be careful not to let myself be corrupted with hate. I must pray for my enemies and bless those who would despitefully use me. At every opportunity I must be a light to those in darkness. My heart breaks for those young girls so mistreated. And it breaks for those who are so depraved or so dead inside that they can abuse another human being in this or any fashion. May the peace that passes all understanding be with you.