If you decide not to forward this,  please send it back 
to Darleene Barrientos [darleeneah@earthlink.net ]. This is  an actual 
petition, and "signatures" 
will be lost if you drop the  line. 
  
  
Please take 3 minutes out of  your life to do your 
part. And be sure to include other members of your  
household who are willing to sign. 
Petition to the United Nations  Background Information: 
Madhu, the government of  Afghanistan, is waging a war 
upon women. Since the Taliban took power in  1996, 
women have had to wear burqua and have been 
beaten and stoned in  public for not having the proper 
attire, even if this means simply not  having the mesh 
covering in front of their eyes. One woman 
was beaten  to death by an angry mob of fundamentalists 
for accidentally exposing her  arm(!) while she was 
driving. Another was stoned to death for 
trying  to leave the country with a man that was not a 
relative. 
Women are not allowed to work  or even go out in public 
without a male relative; professional women such  as 
professors, translators, doctors, lawyers, artists and 
writers have  been forced from their jobs and 
restricted to their homes. Homes where a  woman is 
present must have their windows painted so that she 
can never  be seen by outsiders. They must wear silent 
shoes so that they are never  heard. Women live in fear 
of their lives for the slightest misbehavior.  Because 
they cannot work, those without male 
relatives or husbands are  either starving to death or 
begging in the street, even if they hold  Ph.D.'s. 
Depression is becoming so widespread that it has 
reached  emergency 
levels. There is no way in such an extreme Islamic 
society  to know the suicide rate with certainty, but 
relief workers are estimating  that the suicide rate 
among women must be 
extraordinarily high: those  who cannot find proper 
medication and treatment for severe depression and  
would rather take their lives than live in such 
conditions. At one of  the rare hospitals for women, a 
reporter found still, nearly lifeless  bodies 
lying motionless on top of beds, wrapped in their 
burqua,  unwilling to speak, eat, or do anything, but 
slowly wasting away. Others  have gone mad and were 
seen crouched in corners, perpetually rocking or  
crying, most of them in fear. 
It is at the point where the  term "human rights 
violations" has become an understatement. Husbands  
have the power of life and death over their women 
relatives,  especially their wives, but an angry 
mob has just as much right to stone  or beat a woman, 
often to death, for exposing an inch of flesh or  
offending them in the slightest way. Women 
enjoyed relative freedom:  to work, to dress generally 
as they wanted, and to drive and appear in  public 
alone until only 1996. The rapidity of this 
transition is the  main reason for the depression and 
suicide; Women who were once educators  or doctors or 
simply used to basic human freedoms are now 
severely  restricted and treated as subhuman in the 
name of right-wing  fundamentalist Islam. It is not 
their tradition or 'culture', but it is  
alien to them, and it is extreme even for those 
cultures where  fundamentalism is the rule. Everyone 
has a right to a tolerable human  
existence, even if they are women in a Muslim country. 
If we can threaten military  force in Kosovo the name 
of human rights for the sake of ethnic Albanians,  
citizens of the world can certainly express 
peaceful outrage at the  oppression, murder and 
injustice committed against women by the Taliban.  
STATEMENT: In signing this, we  agree that the current 
treatment of women in Afghanistan is completely  
UNACCEPTABLE and deserves action by the 
United Nations and that the  current situation overseas 
will not be tolerated. 
Women's Rights is not a small issue  anywhere, and it 
is UNACCEPTABLE for women in 2001 to be treated as  
subhuman and as so much property. Equality 
and human decency is a  fundamental RIGHT, not a 
freedom to be granted, whether one lives in  Afghanistan 
or elsewhere. 
1) Giuliana D. Black, Daly City, CA, USA  
2) Mariam Nayiny, Palo Alto, CA, USA 
3) Sunaina Gulati-Ruh, Palo Alto,  CA USA 
4) Megan McCaslin, Palo Alto, CA USA 
5) Blake Hallanan, San  Francisco, Ca. USA 
6) Kit Henderson, Sacramento, CA USA 
7) Kara Myers,  San Francisco, CA 
8) Ellen Tilden, San Francisco, CA 
9) Vanessa Ross,  San Francisco, CA 
10) Jenna Shaw- Battista, San Francisco, CA 
11)  Jeanne Racik, B!erkeley, CA 
12) Julie Silas, Oakland, CA 
13) Renee  Longstreet, Tarzana, CA 
14) Susan Johnson, Encino, CA 
15) Kenneth  Johnson, Encino, CA 
16) Terri Treas, Los Angeles, CA 
17) Amy  Retzinger, North Hollywood, CA 
18) Babette Crooms, Los Angeles, CA 
19)  Olivia Kienzel; Santa Barbara, CA 
20) Sean Dexheimer, Los Angeles, CA  
21) Elio Chavez, Jr., Pasadena, CA 
22) Gregory Kastigar, Los Angeles,  CA 
23) Robert Collie, Los Angeles, CA 
24) Jeff Garvin, Brea, CA  
25) Tricia Allen, Sherman Oaks, CA 
26) Joleen Nordstrom ~ Hollywood,  CA 
27) Theresa Donahoe - Martinez,CA 
28) Jennifer Horn - Concord, CA  
29) Roxanne Ryan - Alamo, CA 
30) Miriam Tyler- San Jose CA 
31)  John Burns- San Jose CA 
32) Kristin Lynn Minick- Fort Worth TX 
33)  Jeff Neal- Marietta, GA 
34) Anna Neal- Marietta, GA 
35) Frances  Murley-Fort Worth, TX 
36) David Murley-London, England, UK 
37) Jillian  Dykhouse, Colleyville, TX 
38) Bonnie Dykhouse,Colleyville,TX 
39) Nancy  Williams, Colleyville, TX 
40) Georgene Farr, Sterling Heights, MI 
41)  Joanne Arensberg, Riverview, MI 
42) Luann Ouellette, Vermillion, SD  
43) Sandie Sullivan, Vermillion, SD 
44) Troy Nelson, Minneapolis, MN  USA 
45) Joseph Miller, Minneapolis, MN USA 
46) Kathleen Miller, White  Bear Lake, MN USA 
47) Jerry Marquis, Mpls. Mn. USA 
48) Julie Stokes,  Coon Rapids, MN USA 
49) Tracy Ford, Blaine, MN USA 
50) Sheila  Lawrence, Monticello, MN USA 
51) Brenda Kitchen, Westlake Village,  Calif!ornia,USA 
52) Teresa Burke, Sherman Oaks, CA, USA 
53) Bruce  Ehrlich, Sherman Oaks, CA USA 
54) Yllania Francis, Los Angeles, CA USA  
55) Drew Hedin, Los Angeles, CA USA 
56) Laura Paridon, Laguna Woods,  CA USA 
57) Jeanie Hagedorn, Des Moines, IA USA 
58) Sue Christensen,  Des Moines, IA USA 
59) Sybil Finken, Glenwood, IA USA 
60) Luke Finken,  Earth 
61) Doug Gerace, Lincoln, NE USA 
62) Cheryl Gerace, NE 
63)  Sheri Lew, CO 
64) Raven Grace, Boulder, CO 
65) Martha M.Mertz, EL,  Michigan 
66) Colleen R. Cooper, Okemos, Michigan 
67) Barbara J.  Sawyer-Koch, East Lansing, MI 
68) Margaret A. Meyers, Okemos, Michigan  
69) Mary Helen Espes, Okemos, Michigan 
70) Maureen Kirchhoff,  Allenspark, CO 
71) Bart Johnson, Err, France 
72) Sharon!O'Connor,  Olympia, WA USA 
73) Nancy Irving, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia 
74)  Martha Lindley, Seattle, WA, USA 
75) Judith Alexander, Woodinville, WA,  USA 
76) Arlene B. Hawkinson, Seattle, WA, USA 
77) Christine E. Mobley,  Bothell, WA, USA 
78) Trudie Breen, CA, USA 
79) Catherine Standiford,  CA, USA 
80) Beverly Truett, AZ, USA 
81) Christine Meehan,AZ,USA  
82) Janice Gilbert, Valley Center, CA, USA 
83) Dawna Upchurch,  Anchorage, AK USA 
84) Roxanna Groves, Olympia, WA USA 
85) Lynda Lynde,  Helena, MT USA 
86) Constance Gelu, University Place, WA USA 
87) Jodi  Woolett, Tacoma, WA USA 
88) Lisa I. Reeves- Lynden, WA USA 
89) Amanda  James-Bow, WA USA 
90) Kelli J. Smith, New Port Richey, FL USA 
91)  Chris Poirier, Largo, Fl USA 
92) Mike Carpenter, Palmetto, Fl USA 
93)  Alice Pryor, Melbourne FL USA 
94) Ellen Catano, Manchester NH USA 
95)  Bevely Jennings, Cincinnati OH USA 
96) Linda Feely, Norwood,OH USA 
97)  Sherry Stidham, Norwood OH USA 
98) Brittany Brown, Cincinnati OH USA  
99) Sandy Brown, Cincinnati, Oh USA 
100) Tim Brown, Cincinnati, OH USA  
101) Pat Brown, Cincinnati, OH USA 
102) Amy Cregger, Memphis, TN USA  
103) Kay Emerick, Logan, OH USA 
104) Trina Bookman, Logan, OH USA  
105) Mary Samuelson, St. Louis, Mo USA 
106) Jeannette Ward, Memphis,  TN USA 
107) Elisabeth Davis, Memphis, Tn USA 
108) Rose Klimek,  Memphis, TN USA 
109) Barbara K. White, Hoquiam, WA, USA 
110) Paula J.  Eriksen, Palm Harbor, Florida USA 
111) Rag!nar Eriksen, Palm Harbor,  Florida USA 
112) MARILYN KING, CLEARWATER, FL, USA 
113) Barbara  Stiner,Oldsmar,FL,USA 
114) Jac'line Weisgerber,Clearwater,FL,USA 
115)  Charlotte Beadles, Douglasville, GA, USA 
116) Jody Hoadley, Powder  Springs, GA, USA 
117) Hope Howard, Atlanta, GA, USA 
118) Cliff Howard,  Atlanta, GA, USA 
119) Kay Chicoine, Atlanta, GA USA 
120) Mark  Chicoine, Atlanta, GA USA 
121) Paula King, Lexington, KY,USA 
122)  Sally Weissman,Minneapolis,Mn,USA 
123) Susan Abbott, New Brighton, MN USA  
124) Rachel Fine, St. Louis Park, MN, USA 
125) Deb Harley,Eden  Prairie, MN,Usa 
126) Barb Handahl,Faribault, MN,USA 
127) Ann  Olson,Chamberlain S.D.USA 
128) Deb Hunt,Sioux Falls S.D.USA 
129) Anne  Frankman, Sioux Falls, SD USA 
130) Susie Kostel, Tabor, SD USA 
131)  Julie Anderson, Mount Prospect, IL USA 
132) Janet Tilden, Fremont, NE USA  
133) Debbie Bowman, Kingston Springs, TN, USA 
134) Shari Watkins,  Franklin, TN, USA 
135) Teresa Beck, Columbia, TN USA 
136) Amy  Stephens, Brentwood, TN, USA 
137) Vicki Warren, Lyles, TN, USA 
138)  Linda Lupo, Westland, MI, USA 
139) Cathie McClary, Clinton Twp. MI, USA  
140) Diane Catellane, Clinton Twp. MI, USA 
141) Judy Mellen,  Clarkston, MI, USA 
142) Donna Waite, Lake Orion, MI, USA 
143) Ann  Acton, South Lyon, MI, USA 
145) Tami Hall, South Lyon, MI, USA 
146)  Wendy Belsley, South Lyon, MI, USA 
147) Gretel Coombs, East Lansing, MI,  USA 
148) Mike Jones, Lansing, MI, USA 
149) Jeff Jones, Atlanta, GA,  USA 
150) Marion Jones , Atlanta, GA , USA 
151) Pat Scott, Enumclaw,  WA, USA 
152) Bob Panzer, Houston, TX, USA 
153) Pat Panzer, Houston,  TX, USA 
154) Joe Schwartz, Jacksonville AL USA 
155) Stefanie Walfield,  Fayetteville, NC, USA 
156) Liz Dunkley, Milledgeville, GA, USA 
157)  Christine Dunkley, Milledgeville, GA, USA 
156) Mike Dunkley,  Milledgeville, GA, USA 
157) Randy Parsons, Eatonton, Ga. 
158) Bonita  Platner, Kirkwood, NY. USA 
159) Ralph Platner, Kirkwood, NY. USA 
160)  Charles Lundquist, Binghamton, N.Y. U.S.A. 
161) Tracy Rowe, Hollywood, CA  USA 
162) Daniel Raphael New York, New York USA 
163) Ann Brameier, New  York, NY USA 
164) Kazuko Tao, Healdsburg, Ca USA 
165) Shelley Zavat,  Rio Nido, Ca. USA 
166) Kendall Smith, Fort Bragg, Ca USA 
167) Candi  Zizek, Sacramento, California USA 
168) Annette Blackwood, West Hartford,  CT USA 
169) Frank Sentner, West Hartford, CT USA 
170) Ann Steadman,  Roanoke, VA USA 
171) George Steadman, Roanoke, VA USA 
172) Elizabeth  Byam,Washington, DC USA 
173) Mary Dougal,Montclair, NJ USA 
174)  Kathleen Ennen, Champaign, Il. USA 
175) Patricia S. Berky, Baltimore, Md.  USA 
176) Wahiba Abu-Ras, Old Bridge, NJ. USA 
177) Magdi Awad, Old  Bridge, NJ USA 
178) Melissa Joralemon, NY USA 
179) Vida  Cofie-Robertson, NJ USA 
180) Sema Gurun, NY, USA 
181)Sahika Yildirim,  UB, Mongolia 
182) Ceylan Orhun istanbul-turkey 
183)Efsa Kuraner,  Istanbul, Turkey 
184) Meyzi Barin Istanbul Turkey 
185) Marie-Aude  Serra, Istanbul Turkey 
186) Gil Serra, Istanbul Turkey 
187) Brian  Wilks, France 
188) Laverne Travis. TX USA 
189) Beth Nikiel, Texas, USA  
190) Kim Rosales, TX USA 
191) Stephen Rosales, TX USA 
192) Lori  Lutz, CO USA 
193) Kathy McGinty, CA, USA 
194) Marie Friedman, CA USA  
195) Rana Gebara , Dubai, UAE 
196) Hassib Gebara, Dubai, UAE 
197)  Youssef Naaman, Jeddah, KSA 
198) Hiram Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
199)  Elham Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
200) Paul Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
201)  Paula Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
202) Joseph Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
203)  Audrey Na'man, Beirut, Lebanon 
204) Gwen Payne, Bellevue, Washington  
205) Catherine de Marin, Redmond Washington 
206) Deborah M. Hunter,  Issaquah, Washington 
207) David M. Hunter, Issaquah, Washington 
208)  Carolyn M. Niva, Bellevue, WA USA 
209) John C. Niva, Bellevue, WA USA  
210) William L. Niva, Olympia, WA USA 
211) Ellen Madsen, Olympia, WA  
212) Mary ElizaBeth Fischer, Olympia, WA 
213) Pam Sutton-Peabody,  Puyallup, Wa 
214) Diane Nelson, Edgewood WA 
215) Kathryn Athow,  Tacoma, WA 
216) Ronnie Reuschle 
217)Taletta Wibmer Renton, WA 
218)  Jane Mitchell Crane? Bainbridge Island, WA 
219) Beulah Downing, Bainbridge  Island, WA 
220) Hien Nguyen, San Francisco, CA 
221) Darleene  Barrientos, Los Angeles, CA, USA 
222) Michael Paul Wong, Monrovia, CA, USA  
223) Renee Payan Wong, Monrovia, CA USA 
224) Barbara Mark, CA, USA  
225) Elizabeth Thaller, La Puente, CA USA 
226) Floyd Thaller, La  Puente, CA USA 
227) Nancy Young, Agua Dulce, CA USA 
228) Bob Young,  Agua Dulce, CA USA 
229) Carol Garber, Providence, RI, USA 
230) Jean  Garber, Bellevue, WA, USA 
231) Kellie Wyllie, Victoria, BC, Canada  
232) Eric Onasick, Victoria, BC, Canada 
233) Joan Carrigan, Salt  Spring Is., BC, Canada 
234) Richard Milburn, Salt Spring Is., BC, Canada  
235) Anna Gustafson, Salt Spring Is., BC, Canada 
236)Paul Burke, Salt  Spring Is., BC, Canada 
237)Wendy Cromie,Salt Spring Is., BC, Canada  
238) Stewart Harding, Montreal, QC, Canada 
239) Christine Cottingham,  Bradford, ON, Canada 
240) Shelley Dunn, Collingwood, ON, Canada 
241)  Stephen Hogbin, Wiarton, ON, Canada 
242) Janice Sandeen, Mill Valley, CA  USA 
243) Karen Lynn Sterkin, Concord, CA USA 
244) Terri Zagrodnick,  Denton,TX USA 
245) Jennifer Wilkerson, Dallas, TX USA 
246) D. Reina,  Taos, NM, USA 
247) Lyn  Montgomery, Dallas Texas USA
248)  Susana Gibb,Dallas, TX  USA
249) Regina Eddleman, Dallas, TX  USA
250)Elizabeth Cherry,  Houston, TX USA
DIRECTIONS: PLEASE COPY this  email on to a new 
message, sign the bottom and forward it to everyone on  
your distribution lists. If you receive this 
list with more than 300  names on it, please e-mail a 
copy of it to: sarabande@brandeis.edu  
Even if you decide not to sign, please be  considerate 
and do not kill the petition.