Pakistani rape victim seeks permission to travel to US

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2005/August/subcontinent_August58.xml§ion=subcontinent

ISLAMABAD - Mukhtaran Mai, the victim of a notorious gang rape in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, on Tuesday requested the government to let her visit the United States for a women’s rights rally.

Last June, President General Pervez Musharraf had barred Mai from travelling to the US on the invitation of a group called Asian American Network against Abuse of Women (AANA), fearing unwelcome publicity.

The government even restricted her movements in her hometown of Mirwala and forced her to withdraw her visa application from the US Embassy in Islamabad.

“I request the Prime Minister (Shaukat Aziz) ... should give me permission (to visit the US),” Mai, whose case has attained international attention on customs that brutalize women in Pakistan, told DPA.

[krkaufman]

1. Sounds like we need to get Pickles on the case. n/t

[WindRavenX]

2. This woman is the bravest person in the world

Every effort should be made to keep her safe and allow her to stay in the US.