PAKISTAN: Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Author(s): Melissa Rodgers and Cheryl Lindsey Seelhoff

Source: Off Our Backs , 2007, Vol. 37, No. 4 (2007), p. 5
Published by: off our backs, inc.

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/20838851

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had worked in women's
development programs in
Kandahar for six years.
"This is against Islam,
this is against Afghan cul
ture, particularly against
Kandahari custom, a
woman's abduction," said
Ruma Tareen, the director
of women's affairs in the
city's government.
"We are so sad and we
want her to be released
as soon as possible," said
Soraya Barna, a member
of the provincial council.
?info from The New on Oct. 23. "If we don't
York Times, 1/30
PAKISTAN
Benazir Bhutto
assassinated
RAWALPINDI?Benazir
Bhutto, 54, the first wom
an to have been elected
Prime Minister of an
Islamic state, and who just
last October emerged from
her self-imposed exile of
eight years to return to
Pakistan, was assassinated arraf may be behind her
in late December 2007. A assassination.
suicide bomber hit crowds
gathered to hear her speak
at a Pakistan People's
Party rally in Rawalpindi.
Bhutto spent five years
in prison and had been
dogged by accusations
of corruption and money
laundering, which she said
were politically motivated.
She returned to Pakistan
in October when she was
given amnesty by Pakistan
President Pervez Mush
arraf. She was a popular
leader whom many viewed detrimental to society's
as key to a democratic psychological tranquility."
Pakistan and to resisting Zanan, which for 16 years
the increasing power of
fundamentalist groups and nian women's issues, was fall down?never mind
leaders there. also accused of "offering publishing a magazine
When 136 people were a somber picture of the Is only for women.
killed in last October's sui lamic Republic," "compro I think we can raise
cide bomb attack upon her mising its readers' mental
many of the issues in
return to Pakistan, Bhutto health" and "publishing
said she would limit mass the newspapers and
morally questionable
election rallies and would publications but only
information." Since 2005,
if we know how to
campaign by telephone. the Iranian government
"We do not want to present it so we can
has suspended 42 publi
cations and canceled the say what we want and
endanger our leadership
not cross any existing
unnecessarily, and we licenses of 24 others, often
lines and sensitivities
certainly don't want to risk arresting publishers and
in society. This is an art
potential mass murder of reporters in the process.
form for a journalist.
my supporters," she wrote Shahla Sherkat, founder
in the Wall Street Journal of Zanan, was once a There are many times
hardline supporter of the when my writers or
campaign, the terrorists Iranian government, but readers ask me to put
have won and democracy her views changed after something in the maga
is set back further. If we the war between Iraq and zine and I sit down and
do campaign, we risk Iran. She had managed to measure the costs and
violence. It is an extraordi operate her cutting-edge
the benefits of printing
nary dilemma." publication by avoiding something. Sometimes
Bhutto had been politics in general, focus you print something
warned repeatedly that ing on women's issues and that is of extreme val
Islamic militants wanted scrupulously adhering to ue, meaning that it has
her dead. She was a fierce Iranian dress codes and a very positive impact
critic of Musharraf's other government man on the reader and that
autocratic regime and his dates for women. Never one piece does great
imposition of martial law theless, Sherkat had been work in society. I may
and some believe Mush arrested twice, once for decide to do that even
having made the statement if it leads to the closure
that she was against a of the magazine.
?info from Teeth Blog forced Islamic dress code, Asked about her fears
(http://www.teeth.com) even though she herself
adhered to the dress code. for the magazine, she said:
IRAN She made this statement One of my fears is for
while at a conference in whatever reason to lose
government
closes down Berlin in response to a Zanan magazine. That
question from the audi is like one of my chil
leading feminist ence. For this, Sherkat was dren. Another concern
magazine fined and sentenced to four is economical prob
TEHRAN?The Iranian months in prison. lems?we have many
government has closed In an interview with economical issues, and
down Iran's leading PBS six years ago, Sherkat some nights I can't
feminist magazine, Zanan said: sleep and I'm up all
("Women" in Farsi) for Journalism in the night sitting there with
"publishing information developing countries a calculator punch
is like a tightrope act: ing in numbers to see
if you put your foot whether we can pay the
one millimeter to one salaries this month and
has been a forum for Ira side or the other you buy paper or not.
vol 37 / no 4 off our backs 5
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