No country for young women: the story of Shahida Raza

Sometime around 22 February, about 200 people — including women, children and babies — clambered onto a ramshackle wooden boat off the Turkish coast. They were refugees fleeing war and persecution and came mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Syria. There were also 21 Pakistanis. Their destination was the province of Calabria on the South West coast of Italy.

For most of the people on the boat, Italy was not their final destination but a critical one nevertheless. Once in Italy they would be inside the Schengen Zone — an area comprising 27 European countries where visa-free movement is allowed and border controls are minimal. Most of them planned to make their way from Italy to other parts of Europe to join family and relatives living there. Many were travelling with small children, others were minors travelling on their own.

Those from Pakistan came on what is known as the ‘dunkey’ route. For a charge — currently reportedly at about 8,000 euros (equivalent to Rs24 lakhs) — human traffickers pick up their customers from different parts of the country and bring them to a collection point in Quetta. From there, they make their way to the Iranian border, crossing into Iran on foot or on a mule — hence the moniker.

The next part of the journey — a long overland haul across Iran — is grueling. In order to avoid police controls and various checkpoints, they are crammed into the boots of cars, inside baggage holds of buses, or in containers of articulated trucks. Often they have to go without food, water, fresh air and light for many hours, with only occasional toilet breaks in the countryside. It is a harrowing experience.

The crossing from Iran into Turkey is again usually on foot. The border is well controlled but the traffickers use little-used mountain paths often after dark — paths which can be icy and treacherous, particularly in wintertime. Accidents are not uncommon.

In Turkey, the marathon continues on cars, buses and trucks. As one could imagine getting to the Mediterranean coast is a huge relief. From there Italy is a 3 to 4 day boat ride and to many, including the 21 Pakistanis, it must have seemed as if they were approaching the end of their journey.

But the end of February is the middle of winter in Europe and not a time for a sea voyage. As this group of refugees boarded their boat, it was cold and the sea was rough with gale force winds. There were waves of up to 4 meters in height. For the Pakistanis, who are mostly unfamiliar with the sea, it must have been a terrifying moment. Conditions on the boat were also not pleasant. Most of the people were packed into the crowded hold where they hardly breathe, let alone have space for bodily needs. But they must have gridded themselves knowing that they were on the last leg of the journey.

The boat never made it to Italy. Battered by wind and waves it ran around and broke apart within sight of the Italian coast. So far about 70 dead bodies have been washed up on the beaches — including several children and babies. Some have been rescued and the search for those missing continues; but the probability of finding anyone alive in the cold water and rough seas is virtually zero.

The incident has caused shock and horror in Italy. TV, radio and the press have reported extensively on the incident. There have been questions in the Parliament and the Minster of the Interior is being asked to resign. The President of the Republic visited the area and his words of pain and horror captured the mood of most Italians.

Four of the Pakistanis on the boat drowned. Among those dead there was someone who should never have been on a boat of migrants and refugees, risking life and limb for an uncertain future in Europe. She was someone who should have been sought after, celebrated and feted in Pakistan. That someone was Shahida Raza.

Born and brought up in Quetta, Shahida was a top athlete. She was on Pakistan women’s hockey team and represented Balochistan in women’s football. She was on the Pakistan women’s team in 2012’s Asian Hockey Federation Cup and was their star player.

But as she got older and past her athletic peak, there was not much for her to do. There were few facilities for women to play hockey in Quetta; no jobs as a coach; and very few tournaments where she could hope for prize money. There were also few jobs for women in the public or private sector.

But what must have pushed her to leave and embark on her perilous journey was that she was a Hazara. The Hazara are a minority Shia community spread across Afghanistan and North West Pakistan whose origins lie in Central Asia. The Hazara are often the target for disdain and prejudice. In places like Quetta many live in ghetto-like conditions with constant fear of targeted violence by fundamentalist groups.

And so Shahida decided to leave. She left her infant daughter with her parents in Quetta and set off. She must have hoped that once in Europe she would be able to develop her sporting talents, maybe sign up as a coach or player with a football or hockey club, and, once settled, bring her daughter and other family members to join her.

All her dreams drowned with her in a cold and miserable beach. And we are left only with questions: Why does our society not have space for women like Shahida? Why cannot we give her the status that many successful professional sportsmen have in Pakistan and elsewhere? Why did she and her family have to live in fear that one day a wild mob might come down her street spreading chaos and havoc?

Published in The Express Tribune, March 11^th, 2023.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.