From The Front Lines

On the Line With: Gul Meena

Women for Afghan Women: Transforming Lives Every Single Day

In December 2012, the New York Times published a harrowing story about a young Afghan woman, Gul Meena, who had run away with a man who was not her husband only to be savagely attacked with an axe by her brother, according to Afghan police and her neighbors. The man with Gul Meena, presumably her boyfriend, was axed to death. Gul Meena miraculously survived more than 15 blows to the head, face and neck.

This first article tells of the tremendous care Gul Meena received in a Jalalabad hospital, but also the sad story of how many advocates and family members felt that rushing to Gul Meena's hospital bed would be dangerous and stigmatizing since she is believed to be an adulterer.

WAW was the only organization that stepped in to take on all aspects of Gul Meena's care. We flew her to a Kabul hospital and she has been cared for by our compassionate staff in our Halfway House ever since.

In January 2013, a month and a half after Gul Meena arrived in Kabul, another New York Times article tells the amazing story of Gul Meena's progress. She not only survived the brutal attack -- a miracle in itself -- she can walk, wash herself, eat and speak. Her mind has protected her from even more extreme trauma by removing any memory of the attack.

Gul Meena is yet another brave woman whose triumph over brutality demonstrates that progress HAS been made in Afghanistan. WAW remains committed to transforming the lives of individual women and girls like Gul Meena. Organizations like ours that address women's rights and provide shelter and advocacy must be allowed to continue work after the US leaves Afghanistan. It will take global advocacy to ensure this -- and every voice will count.

PLEASE DONATE NOW and ensure that the women of Afghanistan receive the care and justice they deserve!

On the Line With: Zahreen

Zahreen is 23 years old. She came to the Transitional Home 7 months ago. Her little son, one and a half years old, was born in prison.

Zahreen lost her mother when she was a baby. When she was 5, her brother eloped with a girl, and her father gave Zahreen to that family in baad. Since she was so young, she was kept with her own family until she was 14 when her father wanted to marry her to a man in the other family; a 66 year-old grandfather with two wives.

Zahreen ran away to her kind uncle’s home. Her uncle asked his cousin to take Zahreen to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs so that they could help her escape. Zahreen fell in love with her uncle’s cousin. They ran away to Kabul and got married in secret – it was just a private commitment ceremony and does not count as a legal or religious marriage. They lived happily for two and a half years. However, Zahreen’s father was very angry and reported to the police that Zahreen had been kidnapped. The police found the couple and arrested them both. Her husband was sentenced to 15 years for kidnapping, and Zahreen was sentenced to 6 months for zena (adultery).

Zahreen went to the police and said she had not been kidnapped but had gone willingly with this man whom she loved. Her sentence was increased to 2 years and his was decreased to 8 years. There are 6 years remaining of his sentence.

Zahreen was pregnant when she was arrested, and has a 1 and a half year old son. She cries bitterly when she thinks of her husband in prison and what has become of their lives. Women in our shelters are not allowed to visit people in prison, but we asked that an exception be made for Zahreen. Zahreen was overjoyed to visit her husband recently. And yet the tragedy continues in Zahreen’s life. Her husband is very sick in prison and may have stomach cancer.

We will find out the situation with her husband’s health soon, and will also find out if there is any way WAW lawyers can work to reduce his sentence further.

Zahreen has a job as a cleaner in WAW’s shelter and is glad to have a little income. She participates in WAW’s classes, and tries to remain optimistic for her child’s sake. She is a broken-hearted person, and it will take much time to heal her pain, but she is very appreciative of the kindness she and her child receive at WAW.

On the Line With: Mariam

Mariam married an Afghan-American man and moved to Virginia. When she arrived in the United States, she learned that her husband was already living with a woman. He told Mariam that she could stay with them, but she was expected to live with the couple as their maid. Mariam's life there was filled with abuse. Her father told her not to return to Afghanistan because of the shame she would bring. She had no connections, no family nearby, and no way to communicate with her English-speaking neighbors.

A neighbor eventually helped Mariam to leave her husband and move to California, where she had relatives. Mariam continued to experience difficulties in California because she was unable to work and had no money. Her visa expired because her husband did not sponsor her for her green card, as he had promised to do. Mariam petitioned for asylum, and she was approved, but she did not know how to continue her paperwork.

Mariam decided to move to New York because she had family here, but her challenges continued. She desperately needed to find a job, an apartment, and an immigration attorney. Mariam was referred to WAW by a former client -- a woman WAW had helped escape a violent marriage.

Mariam's caseworkers at WAW quickly referred her to a pro-bono attorney who was able to process her paperwork and procure her green card. WAW also referred her to a partner agency which helped Mariam to finalize her divorce. WAW staff found Mariam employment as a babysitter, which she enjoys very much. We even found Mariam an affordable apartment which she is sharing with another young Afghan woman. Mariam's dream is to attend college -- we will help her pursue this dream when she decides she is ready.

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