Bannu elders forbid fleeing women from collecting food aid
"If any woman comes to the ration distribution area, she will be punished," said Malik Kaleemullah, an elder from the Malik tribe. The decision was taken by more than 40 elders on Sunday in Bannu, he said, where most of the families fleeing the fighting are staying.
Last month, the military ordered the civilian population of North Waziristan to leave ahead of an offensive aimed at the Pakistani Taliban.
Since the operation began, nearly a million displaced people have registered for aid, although that number is expected to fall as fraudulent claimants and duplicates are weeded out. Tens of thousands have poured into Afghanistan.
Most of those fleeing come from extremely conservative families, where women wear the head-to-toe "burqa" robe that has only a small mesh area to see through.
Women in villages are often restricted in their movements and may rarely leave their homes. But many now have had to queue to secure food, water or medicine.
On Monday, a Reuters journalist saw Kaleemullah slap several women queuing for food at the main stadium in Bannu, where most aid is being distributed.
Hundreds of others saw him, including members of the security forces and local journalists. No one intervened and the women who were struck, along with a dozen others in line, left quickly.
Kaleemullah then handed out leaflets telling women to stay indoors.
"We, the elders of Waziristan have decided that from now on, no woman should come to the ration distribution area," the leaflet read.
"People of Waziristann ... should keep their women at home," the leaflet continued. "Otherwise, the elders of Waziristan will go to the house and give the husband appropriate punishment."
There was no suggestion how widows or women unaccompanied by their husbands might secure aid. Humanitarian agencies say three-quarters of those who have fled are women and children.
"In this culture they treat women like this, and if you fight them, they will fight you," said a security official.
"Of course, if someone tried to murder a woman, the soldier should stop it. But a slap or something like this, it is very common in their culture."
COMMENTS (12)
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First of all, it is the responsiblity of government to provide food and utilities to IDP's at their doorsteps. If they are illiterate than why government ddnt invested in education there, when was the time, the results are these terrorists out there. In every way government is responsible because from the day one ,they dont have time to give something to the people except for looting the country.
Those slapping and prohibiting women from collecting ration have the same state of mind as of Taliban. Army to scrutinize if they are Talibans in disguise of IDP
It happens in Punjab too...where honour killings and rape of women is most high in whole of Asia...yet people dig on Pashtuns...and attack them...yes its a problem...but please do fix your own house first
It is highly unislamic and unjust for a man to allow physical abuse of women.
People across the river Attock and the Taliban have one-eyed tunnel vision with a reduced range!
Sad, A strange man can beat/touch any women as he pleases for reasons as fictitious as for collecting food aid. It is the government who makes laws and food aid is not private property for men of IDP only. These men are easily prone to crimes against women. This is result of uneven education and development. Society is highly intolerant and insensitive, towards women.
Nor is this Waziristan. Teach this mullah some manners.
This kind of thing should be slapped down hard. This is neither rational nor lawful nor just.
These same conservative types have no shame when it comes to taking khayrat when they live in the West. I have seen so many women in Niqab and Hijab or men with long beards and Islamic style clothing collecting state khayrat and living in government housing in the UK because they don't work. What allows them to live on other peoples' money but pretend to be so religious? Doesn't fool anyone.
Why is such backwards culture still prevalent in the 21st century?
So widows should starve to death? This kind of 'culture' should have no place in a civilized society, these elders should be penalized by the army officers on duty for refusing the IDPs their modest rights.
What are women without caretaker men going to do ,
Zamana-e-jihaliyat
If we are forcing these tribals out of all this then why allow them to follow their laws why nit follow one constitution its too long that this jihalat laws have been tolerated , No more !
The one slapping should be slapped and beaten really hard by the soildersvatleast there should be a silver lining with this operation !