When acid was thrown into her face, Mumtaz and her sisters (who were also attacked) received strong support. For many years, Mumtaz lived in a women's shelter run by Women for Afghan Women, an organization that arranged for her and her sisters to benefit from plastic surgery in India. It is not true that the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan has been a waste of time. As a matter of fact, there has been great progress in women's and child rights in Afghanistan, progress that could occur only because the majority of Afghan people want it and because coalition troops and organizations were there. That fact, largely unknown to the American public, is the subject of a documentary "To Build A Nation" currently being made. The trailer of the film can be seen on youtube. Search for "To Build A Nation".
2
Scores of people have written to ask how to help Mumtaz, which I've found very encouraging. There have been so many emails, letters and comments that I'm afraid I've had to respond to many of them with a canned reply (a copy of which is below) just to keep up. We will do our best to follow up on Mumtaz's case, and I think there's a good chance now of her rescue. Yours, Rod Nordland/ Kabul
Thanks for getting in touch and expressing your concern for Mumtaz. Like you, many others have asked how they can help. She’s in an area that is impossible to reach safely but an Afghan NGO, Women for Afghan Women, is trying to help her escape to someplace where she can be helped. They have an office in the States and their contact information can be found here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/
Yours, Rod Nordland, Kabul Bureau Chief
Thanks for getting in touch and expressing your concern for Mumtaz. Like you, many others have asked how they can help. She’s in an area that is impossible to reach safely but an Afghan NGO, Women for Afghan Women, is trying to help her escape to someplace where she can be helped. They have an office in the States and their contact information can be found here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/
Yours, Rod Nordland, Kabul Bureau Chief
2
I agree with those who note that our intervention in the Middle East has not been universally beneficial - to say the least. This is a particularly tragic story and it only emphasizes that cultural change cannot be done at gunpoint or with bombs.
Please look at the NYT Replies tab in these comments for the website of an organization that may be able to help Mumtaz. I reproduce that site here:
http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/page2
Please look at the NYT Replies tab in these comments for the website of an organization that may be able to help Mumtaz. I reproduce that site here:
http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/page2
1
Ask Afghan-Americans if Jirga, the TRBAL COUNCIL can provide any guidance
How can I help this young woman?
3
Is any one from The NY Times going to dedicate some resources to raise efforts to get her & her children out? Some one respond with a link, an idea, a contact, anything. Writing the article is an important first step, but Sandra, I, & a lot of others hope the journalist can guide us somehow.
4
I would like to help as well. Can someone suggest a way to help this woman and her children? Please contact me .
1
Sandra, maybe try contacting the reporters--the NYT has emails on its site, although they can be hard to find. Maybe they will have suggestions.
This is a heartbreaking story and a very disturbing view of apparently how hard it is to help women like these, in other countries as well as Afganistan.
Are there any legitimate organizations that can help support these women & their children, financially at first; and also, any organizations that help quietly move these families into a safer environment.
Does anyone know of such contacts. I'd b happy t work with you. I live in NYC.
Are there any legitimate organizations that can help support these women & their children, financially at first; and also, any organizations that help quietly move these families into a safer environment.
Does anyone know of such contacts. I'd b happy t work with you. I live in NYC.
1
Where are the Western feminists condemning Islam for this religiously sanctioned behaviour? Oh, I see, they are too busy defending cultural differences and protesting micro-agressions in their own lives.
4
How do you know these people are Muslim? The words Islam and Muslim do not appear in this article. Political correctness run amok.
How can I help? Is there a group who can get her and her children to a safe place?
9
There is always a helicopter rescue. And crowdfunding to pay for it, assuming some American soldiers are able to locate her and allowed to do it.
She is one of the few we know about. Stories like this play out in that part of the world repeatedly. The primitive brutality won't change unless the combo of culture and religion do.
She is one of the few we know about. Stories like this play out in that part of the world repeatedly. The primitive brutality won't change unless the combo of culture and religion do.
6
Thanks for getting in touch and expressing your concern for Mumtaz. Like you, many others have asked how they can help. She’s in an area that is impossible to reach safely but an Afghan NGO, Women for Afghan Women, is trying to help her escape to someplace where she can be helped. They have an office in the States and their contact information can be found here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/
Yours, Rod Nordland, Kabul Bureau Chief
Ever wonder why it is called the graveyard of empires
5
Mumtaz had a wonderful husband worthy of great respect who should be remembered. He managed to be fully human, a status many men in that country are unable to achieve.
17
How do we help Mumtaz and her family? Any way to direct contributions directly to them?
9
You send money to them and a male.relative will have to pick it up, and there will a.large chance that any money sent to this woman will be given to the people that murdered her family.
Throwing money at this problem solves nothing. We need to work to either moderate or destroy Islam.
Throwing money at this problem solves nothing. We need to work to either moderate or destroy Islam.
1
The way someone put it to me about our strategy in Afghanistan was that we’re playing chess, and the Taliban are playing go.
That's very funny, but so wrong.
We're playing checkers, and the Taliban are playing chess.
We're playing checkers, and the Taliban are playing chess.
This is one of the absolute saddest stories I have ever read and because of her location, there is nothing that can be done to help her. If she lived in a decent civilization, help would pour in.
7
This is truly tragic. This woman can't feed her children. It puts the petty arguments that I obsess over in perspective.
18
Once upon a time, long long ago, Kabul used to be called the city of roses and Afghan women were educated. That was before the 1970s when US decided to intervene and empower Pakistani army and Afghan mujaheddin to fight the 'Evil Soviet Empire". Rest is history. Same story as Iraq and Syria and multitude of others. Apparently every US President has a mandate to stop communism and spread democracy by destroying countries. No country no communism, I guess. Although I didn't vote for him, I hope at least President Trump will be different and stop this foreign intervention crap which is destroying the world and bankrupting America. But I have very little hope. Devil's chess is too interesting a game.
21
The root of Afghanistan's 43 years of civil unrest dates not to 1979, but to 1973 when the king was overthrown by his nephew. It was also at this point that Pakistan began pulling strings in Afghanistan. These events in the early-70's had nothing to do with the US.
5
True. US did not provide the spark. Just the gasoline.
2
Wrong. The U.S./Soviet rivalry had been playing out in Afghanistan since the early 1950s; viz., James Michener's CARAVANS. Both countries then had huge hearts and minds initiatives in Afghanistan, that were the roots of the conflicts of the 70s, 80s and 90s.
1
The way women are treated in this country is horrific. I realize that this may be a cultural issue and takes time to change. However, we should continue to increase awareness of this issue and provide needed funding to protect these women in need.
My wife and I contribute to charitable organizations that provide food, shelter and clothing to support women in various countries. I hope more people focus on this effort to provide women throughout the world with equal rights and opportunities afforded to men.
My wife and I contribute to charitable organizations that provide food, shelter and clothing to support women in various countries. I hope more people focus on this effort to provide women throughout the world with equal rights and opportunities afforded to men.
12
Money does nothing if the men control it. In Afghanistan, any dollar you send goes into the hand of a man. It then becomes HIS money and you can kiss your good feelings goodbye.
3
Hunger Project and Global Fund for Women are two good ones if memory serves correctly
2
The chances of women ever receiving equality are nil, hopeless; whether in this country, Saudi Arabia, Israel, South Africa or France. Trump and his party are rolling out new gag orders, while the guys in Texas will force women to carry their rapists fetuses. Fewer women are in the senate than a decade ago and the wage gap is widening again. Women still don't get compensated for their labor in the home. Their reproductive labor is ignored and men want to charge women extra for maternal medical services in their health plans. Who's giving birth to these guys anyway? Why don't they just give birth to themselves? There's rarely any mention of sexism and misogyny in the comments. Only denial of women's disadvantaged status. Never recognizing the problem, means never resolving it.
28
What are you talking about women don't have equal rights in Israel (and France for that matter)? Obviously you have never been there but equating Afghanistan even in the same breath shows your ignorance. You think women get acid thrown in their faces in France and Israel?
What would be of most use is if the Times could tell us how we can give money or other aid to this poor woman in Afghanistan for whom getting up in the morning and struggling through the day is heroic.
What would be of most use is if the Times could tell us how we can give money or other aid to this poor woman in Afghanistan for whom getting up in the morning and struggling through the day is heroic.
9
Amen.
1
NYT, please post a follow up story with contact information of where to contribute money. From the article it sounds as if groups that helped her in the past now can't reach her. If people want to help send support, who should they contact? I'm absolutely horrified that a young woman has had to bear this much sorrow and pain in her life.
32
How can we help?
20
Mumtaz and her family fear for their safety, lack of food and no means of an income on a daily basis. I cannot even begin to imagine that scenario.
Thank you Mr. Nordland for the link to "Women for Afghan Women, an NGO trying to rescue her. They have a U.S. fund-raising office; contact information here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/page2" This intel is the one glimmer of hope amongst the horrific situation you described in detail.
Many, many thanks for sharing - both the story and the link. Bless you and Jawad Sukhanyar.
17
Yup. Let's keep importing more this type of Muslim fundamentalism into our country. As if we don't already have enough problems already here.
11
You think these (the men who did this) are the kind of Muslims who want to live in the US? On the other hand, Mumtaz might be the kind of Muslim to seek asylum here.
10
Yes, the Afghan women and men I know are enduring many shocks and challenges, to say the least. Such stories do deserve to be told, of course. Part of the story, however, is the tendency of American Media to report on such social dysfunction to suit its own implicit or explicit agenda regarding the Muslim world. I am not criticizing this article but referring to a general one, the larger context for reading this. That's why the recent article in The Nation by Rafia Zakaria is relevant here, I think: https://www.thenation.com/article/why-donald-trump-needs-muslim-women/
2
The tragedies that result from the ignorance, poverty, fundamentalism, and tribalism in this pathetic country just go on and on. It is now 100% clear that the world's best armed forces and trillions of dollars haven't helped a bit.
Next idea?
Next idea?
26
Time to pack up and leave.
9
I am not only surprised, but somewhat dismayed to find so few comments here (admittedly it is 11 a.m. on a workday). But I believe that because of the news cycle that we now have with Trump and his administration taking the air out of the press atmosphere, we forget that there are others who suffer far greater pain, suffering and injustice than we, as Americans, can even imagine. So it is important that "Make America Great Again" does not become the chant that closes our hearts and minds to the commonality we have as humans. The GOP has become the Party over Country representative. As individuals, we have a choice not to let government, politics or nationality be put over our compassion, caring and charity. This woman, and the millions like her, are sisters to us all.
24
Actually, I've been heartened at how many people commented on, and read and reacted to, this article, far more than normal for a foreign story, and a story from Afghanistan and its 16 year old war.
1
Wild beasts live in our world. They look like men. They have brains just as do we. But they live like mad dogs, harrowing others with impunity, raping and murdering then slinking off into the wilds ruled by murderers and "religious" outlaws. It is the chains of intolerance for the beliefs of others that birth these brutish cousins of ours. Religion is not a faith there, but a team sport. You join a religion as one would join a football team, only the teams there are made up of b brothers and fathers and cousins and mullahs who, once pushed to the fringes, become characters out of a sci-fi film. No one is safe from them. And those who are harried have no place to run. A recurring nightmare of a life, retribution heaped upon retribution, year after year after month after week. A cycle of insanity, and no way out...
31
I wonder how the NYT came across and singled out this particular heart breaking story. I'm glad it was brought to light as an example of the suffering that continues in Afghanistan, and spreading all over. Think of Yemen, Somalia, Nigeria, Syria. But today we have learned about Mumatz's story and I hope, because she is locatable, that the next step can be taken by offering her some assistance. I'm sure many readers would contribute or help in any way they can.
23
Afghanistan is a corrupt country populated by barbarian men. US taxpayers have paid many billions in dollars and thousands of US and NATO soldiers have been killed and maimed in a futile attempt to provide order in a place of unchangeable chaos and violence. No American president, not Bush, not Obama, not the benighted Trump, has offered a rationale for the American presence there. We are not in a "war" in Afghanistan. We are funding a failed occupation. Burn the poppy fields and leave.
40
This story illustrates that despite two decades of military action in Afghanistan by superpowers (USA and Russia) it is still not possible to offer even the most basic support for this victim of brutality. "Authorities" are unable to enter the area, clearly demonstrating that there is no rule of law in Afghanistan, and no central government with the ability to protect human welfare and safety. Only when the Afghan citizens themselves choose to value women's rights, and choose to create a political system that has the will and the means to protect human welfare and safety, will things get better.
15
It is so sad; beyond any description and uderstanidng of the inhuman ways the Afghans, and Muslims in general, treat women. But then they are taught in the Kuran and by Mohammad that women were their properties and they can treat them any way they saw fit. So, what else can you expect?
15
Nothing in the Koran justifies this sort of treatment of women. These are abusive customary practices, which flourish in conditions of insecurity and the lack of rule of law, but they have little to do with Islam, even if their practitioners fly an Islamic banner to justify their abominable behavior.
This article states: "chronic insecurity leads to the use of violence to enforce male prerogatives." Um, seriously?
Suffering from "chronic insecurity" just forces people to murder and throw acid at innocent teenage girls? If they just weren't "insecure" they would know murder and maiming is wrong?
I am generally in favor of political correctness, but this is political correctness absolutely run amok. It's not "chronic insecurity," OK? It is a culture/religion/mindset of entitlement to do seriously evil things for preposterous reasons.
We need to call out evil. It's not "chronic insecurity."
Suffering from "chronic insecurity" just forces people to murder and throw acid at innocent teenage girls? If they just weren't "insecure" they would know murder and maiming is wrong?
I am generally in favor of political correctness, but this is political correctness absolutely run amok. It's not "chronic insecurity," OK? It is a culture/religion/mindset of entitlement to do seriously evil things for preposterous reasons.
We need to call out evil. It's not "chronic insecurity."
76
well said
9
Thank you for your insightful and spot on observation Ann.
9
Yes, seriously. There's nothing PC about that observation. Chronic insecurity and the lack of rule of law allow armed thugs to rule with violence and do whatever they choose to do, and especially in the Afghan context that often means reverting to some horrible perversion of patriarchy. There is nothing intrinsically evil about Afghans, as you seem to suggest; this horrible situation just encourages and enables evil behavior.
This is outrageous and evil. Time for American special forces to rescue this woman and her children.
5
America borrowed $750 billion to dump into Afghanistan only to end up with these type of conditions. Empires go to Afghanistan to die.
18
So very true!Great observation.
2
17 years of war. Many dead American soldiers, as well as innocent civilians. What do we have to show for it? Anybody remember that the US supported the Taliban against the USSR?
15
“. . . Both men have been charged with murder but have not been arrested because the authorities cannot safely visit the area.” . . . All her husband left her, other than the $28 and the powdered milk, was a carpet to sleep on.”
Stories like this leave me feeling completely helpless, distraught and outraged over the flight of 23-year-old Mumtaz but equally grateful and appreciative of how good my own life and circumstances are. Stories like this are a constant reminder for me to NEVER take what I have for granted. Any bad day in my world could never compare to what this young woman endures on a daily basis.
21
This is a tragic story. I feel sorry for Mumtaz and hope she can be rescued. This said, America should realize that it cannot turn a country like Afghanistan into a western democracy. We made a mistake declaring war on the Taliban. We should have simply gone in there to get Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda and then left.
11
"The abuse of women and girls is the most pervasive and unaddressed human right violation on earth." -- Jimmy Carter
59
Remind me again why we are in the Mideast? Islam will never cleanse itself until the West gets out. Minus a scapegoat they will finally have to own the fact that their religion, as interpreted by a majority of Muslims, is a failed, dark ages monstrosity.
24
This is not Islam, this is tribal law and traditions. Look at vendetta stories and honor killings in southern christian Mediterranean countries more than a century ago and you will find something similar. Men use religion to justify horrendous traditions...
9
But America supports Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan, for all of their "freedom of religion" dastardly religious practises!
25
I think it's pretty safe to say those practices would be even worse, in Afghanistan's case, if the United States were not involved. As for Saudi Arabia, they don't even pretend to have freedom of religion.
Is there a way to contribute financially to Mumtaz & her family?? A very tragic situation.
Would love to help her out.
Would love to help her out.
62
I would like to help. How can individual donors support this poor woman?
After all she's been through, I would like to see her and her daughters thrive.
After all she's been through, I would like to see her and her daughters thrive.
7
I'm the writer of this story, with my Afghan colleague Jawad Sukhanyar, both of us in Kabul. Many readers have asked how to help Mumtaz, who is hard to reach, in a difficult and dangerous place. We've just heard that Women for Afghan Women, an NGO here, is trying to rescue her. They have a U.S. fund-raising office; contact information here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/page2 It's encouraging to see how moved so many of our readers have been by this and similar stories.
16
I'm the writer of this story, with my Afghan colleague Jawad Sukhanyar, both of us in Kabul. Many readers have asked how to help Mumtaz, who is hard to reach, in a difficult and dangerous place. We've just heard that Women for Afghan Women, an NGO here, is trying to rescue her. They have a U.S. fund-raising office; contact information here: http://www.womenforafghanwomen.org/page2 It's encouraging to see how moved so many of our readers have been by this and similar stories.
26
I am so sorry to hear this tragic story. The fact that there is no help for Mumtaz and so many other women who suffer under this cultural oppression is heartrending.
We must be ever so vigilant in this country too because misogyny is rampant everywhere, denying us the president we deserved and voted for, and seething underneath the NeoNazi agenda.
We must be ever so vigilant in this country too because misogyny is rampant everywhere, denying us the president we deserved and voted for, and seething underneath the NeoNazi agenda.
65
Well, fortunately our misogynists are not heavily armed and completely above the law (at least not yet).
Tragic, yet this is what happens when human rights are denied. Yes, you can blame a chaotic dysfunctional government for not maintaining law and order, but as has been stated many times, many areas of the Middle East still operate as tribes and tribal/religious law prevails.
34
When rule by government fails, what's left is gangsters and thugs, militias and warlords, all believing in might-makes-right. Of course we'd like to think, "It can't happen here!" But of course, it can...
3
Yet what happened to Mumtaz has no basis in religious or even in tribal or customary law. This was a militia thug who felt he had the right to take her as his wife because he was the most dangerous guy around, and responded viciously when she refused.
I am sorry for the plight of this woman.
Problem is, it is happening often in developing countries where for whatever reason women are left to raise their children with nothing.
Problem is, it is happening often in developing countries where for whatever reason women are left to raise their children with nothing.
14
All don't leave out, denied medical care, job security, an education, victims of terrorist by Neo-Nazis/Alt-right/Republicans/Libertarians led by DJT-Pence brain trust.
5