Mukhtaran Mai

Introduction:

Mukhtaran bibi now known as Mukhtaran Mai, a 48 years woman from a village
Meerwala in Muzaffargarh district,is a Pakistani human rights activist.
Her life is a journey from Mukhtaran bibi to Mukhtaran Mai.
Mukhtar bibi, an illiterate girl, was married at the age of 15-16 years and was
divorced after sometime. She started to live at her parents with two brothers and a
young sister.She started earning a little bit through sewing and embroidery. In 2002,
at the age of 30 something happened that shook Mai's life and reverberated around
the world.She was gang-raped in the name of honour-revenge by order of her tribal
council as punishment for her younger brother’s alleged relationship with a woman
from  local Mastoi Baloch clan.
Instead of ending her life or living in shame after that incident, She went against her
family and community and raised her voice for justice and fought for it in the
Pakistani courts,making world headlines.That was the time a survivor became a role
model and Mukhtaran bibi became Mukhtaran Mai not in Pakistan only but
worldwide.
After a long struggle, she succeeded in 2011 and High Court announced punish of six
accused men. But her war against rapist is still not over.Now she is fighting for every
women and every generation. Mukhtar Mai is truly a lady of substance and a hope for
every woman.Mukhtaran mai is an outspoken advocate for women's rights in Pakistan
and elsewhere.
She started the Mukhtar Mai Women's Welfare Organization  to provide education,
advocacy, and training to the rural women of Pakistan and to make them aware of
their rights.  The MMWWO also provides shelter and legal help for abused
women.She also started two schools for girls in her village to promote the educational
trends.
From 2002 to present she gained both tremendous respect and fame, nationally and
internationally.She is awarded by  Fatima Jinnah gold medal for her bravery and
courage from Government of Pakistan,  North-South Prize from the Council of
Europe for her contribution to human rights and Glamour Award for The Bravest
Woman in the World. Beside this there are a lot of documentaries, funds and
publications including one of the most famous, In the Name of Honour. Mukhtar Mai
is now happily married with Nasir Abbas Gabol and has settled in life, but her
struggle for the women’s rights has not stopped.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukhtar_Mai
https://www.aprilmag.com/2018/12/07/mukhtar-mai-
https://www.wmm.com/catalog/film/after-the-rape