Mulala's Message - Can It Bring Hope for Egypt's Unwanted Street Girls?

Mulala Youssefsai’s one-girl crusade to ensure the education of girl’s garners worldwide enthusiasm and support. Her brave stance against the Taliban before, during, and after their near-fatal attack enhances her message. Girls no longer need subject themselves to narrow-minded traditionalists. Girls must take advantage of every opportunity for education. By doing so enhances them to become productive members of society on their own merit.

Yet in the midst of Mulala’s valiant efforts there are girls who will never receive the benefit of her crusade against ignorance. They remain prisoners of ignorance, prejudice, and inescapable humiliation. These are the girls wandering the streets of Egypt’s major cities, Cairo and Alexandria. They number anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000. Abandoned, violated, raped, imprisoned, uneducated, at the mercy of a disinterested government, these girls, when taken by the police, spend their days and nights locked in ‘fix-it’ places. In these places, the world can forget them; the government can ignore them, as they grow up in ignorance virtually buried alive.

While Mulala must be applauded and appreciated as a fearless advocate for girls’ rights everywhere, she can be forgiven for not realizing the depth of depravity to which the Egyptian government goes to silence the voices of those they consider less than human. The girls they suppress have no rights, no voice, no freedom, no identity. In contrast to Mulala who has a loving and supportive family and compassionate global public, these Egyptian street girls have no one to support or care for their welfare.

Il Binait Dol: Egypt’s Hidden Shame is a new book which for the first time gives these girls a voice. You can read their personal stories, discover their troubled existence, and read about possible solutions to bringing about real change for this army of street girls that deserves the same opportunities in life that Mulala claims are the right and privilege for each and every girl in the world. 

[The book is available on Kindle ebooks and will soon be available in paperback on Amazon books].

Special Envoy to Afghanistan & Pakistan Marc Grossman in Conversation

Special Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Marc Grossman was in conversation with Ken Furst at the World Affairs Council 87^th Annual dinner meeting, in Springfield, Massachusetts, 7 October 2013. Mr Furst, a former president of the World Affairs Council engaged the former Special Envoy in an important exchange of questions and answers regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan. They enlightened the audience on a bevy of topics concerning the past and current situation in both regions. During Mr Grossman’s thirty-years of experience in the US Diplomatic Corps, much of his time was spent in these countries.

This particular session was held at the annual business meeting for the World Affairs Council’s local chapter. The house was full, interest piqued, questions pertinent and answers always to the point. Curiosity about the Middle East is on the forefront. America’s involvement in this area heightened through involvement in the wars and conflicts raging over the decades including the recent events in Arab countries. I hesitate to call these recent events an Arab Spring; the situations have passed through the Spring and Summer, in many areas reaching Tsunami proportions. However, Mr Grossman kept to the topic at hand and ably commented about education for girls, the economy in these two particular countries, the elections in Afghanistan including Hamid Karsi’s negative remarks toward the US, in addition to being quite frank about the difficulty in dealing with cultures so entrenched in tribalism, while at the same time being conflicted about national identities. He pointed out the variety of problems arising in attempting to bring about the stability in which we in the West are fortunate to live.

He appeared hopeful that these countries would establish their own stability without the aid of American troops. While not speaking for the President’s plans for final troop withdrawal he personally prefers to see a small contingent remaining to give the Afghanis a last boost of assistance in their quest toward stability.

Mr Grossman entertained many questions from the audience all of which he answered with sincerity based on his personal knowledge. The evening proved to be informative and interesting. Since returning to the States from the Middle East, I am thankful that such an organization exists and that so many Americans exhibit enough concern to join in conversation on international affairs. The organizers of the event and the Council deserve thanks for their tremendous efforts in bringing it about as do those who gave their time and curiosity to attend. Finally it was a coup to garner Marc Grossman as speaker for this event. The World Affairs Council, a national organization, deserves praise for its endeavours in pursuit of bringing the globe home.