Gang rape victim fights back with web aid
Remarkable tales of our time
By Paul Hales: Monday 07 March 2005, 10:06
NEW YORK TIMES writer Nicholas D. Kristof today brings us the harrowing tale of 33-year-old Mukhtar Mai who, four years ago, was ordered by a tribal council to be gang-raped because, it seems, her brother was seen in public with a girl from a rival tribe.
The experience – in this case at the hands of four of her neighbours - usually induces suicide out of shame. But not for Mukhtar. She took her attackers and accusers to court where six of them received the death sentence. She subsequently spent her $8,300 compensation on setting up two schools in her village.
Kristoff says an earlier column he wrote about this remarkable young woman brought in a further £133,000 in donations - which came in handy as Muhktar had just sold the family cow to keep the schools going.
Mukhtar never went to school herself and is illiterate, but she’s evidently aware of the power of the Interweb and has had a website set up in her name.
Now, after the death sentences on the six men have been overturned and they head back to the tribal village, Meerwala, in Pakistan, you can read Mukhta’s remarkable tale here:
http://www.mukhtarmai.com/.
