By Laila Kazmi
Seattle: The recent talk by Ms Sahar Saba of the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) brought together members from Seattle’s various ethnic communities. The event which took place on March 13th at Seattle University’s Pigott Auditorium was attended by Pakistanis, Afghanis, Iranians, Indians, Labonese, Americans, and others. Congressman Jim McDermott was also present.
Congressman McDermott addressed the audience before Ms Saba took the stage. He talked about his first hand knowledge of the Afghan situation from having visited Afghani refugee camps in Pakistan years ago. He also expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity to learn about the current situation of Afghan women and was critical of the US role in Afghanistan.
Sahar Saba is the spokesperson for RAWA, an organization based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. RAWA has been carrying out its struggle for women’s rights for the last 26 years. When the Taliban banned education for women, RAWA members repeatedly risked their lives simply by teaching girls to read and write, an activity which they were forced to carry out in secrecy. Ms Saba herself first came to RAWA as a student nine. Her father who was committed to having his daughter educated enrolled her in a RAWA school himself. Today, in her middle twenties Ms Saba is a passionate voice for RAWA and the rights of Afghani women.
She began her talk at SU in a somber voice, yet with eloquently spoken words, “I would like to share with you what happened to us (Afghans) as a people, as a country, and [most] of all as women.” She continued to describe the history of the struggle Afghani women in the last 26 years, starting before the Taliban came to power. About the current state of women, she said that there is still no security for women in Afghanistan. There are numerous cases of kidnapping and attacks on women. Parents still do not send their daughters to school because they are just too afraid of what might happen to them if they leave home. She said that although on paper women of Afghanistan might be free, it is not so in real life. No actions have been taken by those in power to ensure safety of a woman if she goes out of her house, especially without a full burqa (veil).
RAWA was founded by a woman and only has women members, though they have a large number of male supporters. Describing the work of RAWA, Ms Saba said, “The women in Afghanistan were not only the first victims of war, they were also the first ones to say ‘No’ to war.”
Ms Saba said that with subsequent wars Afghanistan has lost too much but one thing the people have not lost is hope. In order to improve the lives of women in Afghanistan, she said, we must start by educating the men first because they are the ones controlling the fate of their wives, sisters, and daughters. In its effort to promote literacy and democratic values, RAWA has been trying to reach out to both men and women in Afghanistan. “We want to make a society where everyone, men and women, have equal rights and security,” said Ms Saba.
Her visit to Seattle was part of a US tour to raise awareness about the situation of Afghan women and seek support for her organization. “Afghanistan cannot be forgotten,” is her message to Americans. She said that the support of the American public has been a great source of inspiration. The thousands and thousands of e-mail messages of support which RAWA receives from Americans help them stay strong.
The RAWA event was made possible by the cooperation of following local Seattle groups: Afghan Iranian Women’s Alliance, Seattle University Society of Feminists, Chaya, Retail Therapy, and Elliott Bay Book Co.
The event at SU was followed by a book signing ceremony the next day at the Elliot Bay Book Co. Though author, Anne E. Brodsky, could not be present herself, Ms Saba signed the books on behalf of RAWA. The book is called With All Our Strength: The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (Routledge) and it provides an insight into the lives of women of RAWA.
For more information on Sahar Saba’s tour dates and locations visit: http://www.afghanwomensmission.org