Mai arrives New York from Pakistan tonight for 'Woman of the Year 2005' Award
By Khalida Mazhar - PakistanTimes.net Foreign Correspondent

NEW YORK (US): Mukhtaran Mai, a gang-rape victim who left Pakistan for United States on Saturday arrives New York to-night to receive a “Courage Award” at a Glamour magazine ceremony, sources said on Sunday.

Earlier, Mai arrived at Lahore airport with police squad and her friend Nasim. No relative or representative of any NGO accompanied her.

The award was meant to commend Mai’s courage in raising a voice for oppressed women.

The Meerwala gang-rape victim has been invited by a New York-based magazine to receive "Glamour Women of the Year Awards" in a ceremony on November-2.

An earlier story from Multan said that Mukhtar Mai, a victim of Meerwala gang rape on orders by the local jury [Jirga] is scheduled to leave for the United States on Saturday to receive a “Courage Award” at a Glamour magazine ceremony.

She would be accompanied by Nazim Ghazlani, her secretary, who maintained that the award was meant to commend Mai’s courage in raising a voice for oppressed women.

Beacon of Light

Before leaving for Lahore on Friday, Mukhtar Mai said, “I am a beacon of light for women being subjected to rape, kidnapping, burning, nose or ear chopping. My school is an institution for girls of remote areas where free books, uniform and other facilities are provided to help make them aware of their rights.”

In a letter to Mai, Glamour editor-in-chief Cindi Leive explained that the magazine honoured the women who had struggled for the cause of women. Mai has been invited to visit the US from today up to November-5.

The award-giving ceremony will be held at Lincoln Centre in the New York City.

Backdrop

The woman whose gang rape on the orders of a village council [Jirga] in June 2002 provoked an international outcry said on Friday that she will soon travel to the United States to receive an award from a magazine.

As to story goes, Mukhtaran Mai, 33, was gang-raped on the orders of a traditional council [Jirga] after her brother, who was 12 at that time, was judged to have offended the honour of a powerful clan by befriending a woman from the tribe.

Her case attracted international attention, and using donations from her well-wishers she has since set up a school for girls in her rural community. "I have been invited by a magazine, Glamour, for the award ceremony on November-2. I will use the occasion to also highlight the plight of the earthquake victims in Pakistan," Mai said.

A letter from the magazine's editor-in-chief, Cindi Leive said; the magazine would honour women who had struggled for the cause of women at its Nov. 2 "Glamour Women of the Year Awards".

"We look for strength. We look for persistence, a woman of the year is someone who believes that women can do whatever they set their mind to, and Mukhtar illustrates those qualities better than anybody," said Cindi Leive.

Mai said she only came to know about her award from the U.S. embassy this week. "I have decided to go to New York as it is a good opportunity to motivate U.S. government officials and the American people and Pakistanis to do more for the earthquake victims."

Mai said the government did not need to worry about what she might say while abroad. "I'm a Pakistani and I have no intention of tarnishing the country's image. But I will speak on the plight of women in rural areas," she said.

Before boarding the aircraft, which is to take her abroad first-time in life Mai said she has no plans to stay in America. She said she will also use the trip to collect donations for victims of this month's monster earthquake, which killed tens of thousands of people in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.

Mukhtar Mai won international fame for speaking out about her gang rape. Mai has been declared Woman of the Year 2005 by Glamour magazine. The 36-year-old woman is to receive the award with a $20,000 cash prize. Past winners include Sen. Hillary Clinton and former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

The Meerwala gang-rape victim will receive "Glamour Women of the Year Awards" from former President of the United States Bill Clinton.

Mai has an appeal pending before the Supreme Court of Pakistan against a lower court's order to free 13 men accused of involvement in her rape.●