PBS: Afghanistan Unveiled
Shaista Wahab
Program Guest
Wednesday, November 17, 2004; 1:00 p.m. ET
Created as the culmination of a unique training program for Afghan women journalists, PBS Independent Lens: "Afghanistan Unveiled" explores the effects of the repressive Taliban regime and the subsequent U.S. military campaign on the lives of Afghan women and their families. As much an emotional as a geographic journey, the film contrasts the harsh lives of the rural women of Afghanistan with those of the fourteen young women trained as camera operators and video journalists who are experiencing newfound freedom and opportunity, and are attempting to use their work to change the condition of women in their country.
Afghan-American professor Shaista Wahab will be online Wednesday, Nov. 17, at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the film and the roll of women in Afghan society.
"Afghanistan Unveiled," a presentation of INDEPENDENT LENS, premieres on PBS Tuesday, Nov. 16, (Check local listings).
Wahab was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. Graduated from Kabul University, Dept. of History and Geography. She was awarded the Colombo Plan Scholarship to follow her graduate studies in India. She attended the University of Delhi, India and earned a master degree in Library and Information Sciences. After graduation from the Library school she returned to Kabul where she worked at Kabul Public Library and the United States Agency for International Development for a year. In 1981 Wahab immigrated to the U.S. and earned a masters degree in history from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. She is a professor at the University and works at the University Library.
In November/December 2002 and February/March 2003 the Asia Foundation sent her to Afghanistan to teach oral history to Afghan women journalism. She spent nine weeks in Afghanistan and traveled with the students and a French journalist to several provinces and prepared a 52-minute documentary Afghanistan Unveiled. Her most recent publication is: "Beginner's Dari" (Persian), published by Hippocrene Books in 2004.
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Asheville, N.C.:
I would like very much to know how I can help women in Afghanistan, specifically Zainab in Bamiyan. Is there a way to provide support for her and others like her - money, food, looms, sheep/goats, etc.? PLEASE provide any information you might have regarding organizations or individuals providing assistance directly to women/children in Afghanistan.
Your film is riveting.
Thanks
Catherine
Shaista Wahab: Thank you for your interest in helping Afghan women.
I would recommend the Asia Foundation, the main sponsor of the traing course for the Afghan women journalists.
The Asia Foundation has a number of projects in Afghanistan.
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Pacifica, Calif.:
After seeing your striking film last night I was truly impressed at the spirit of the Afghan people. The plight of the Hazara people, and especially women, is one I have seen reported before, though not with the compassion and detail you have shown.
With the so-called "reconstruction" proceeding in Afghanistan (i.e. new highways), is any aid getting to these people? Or is the fact that most people in the country are living in poverty make them just another desperate group? What aid groups are still operating in the country and are they substantial enough to make an impact? Thank you.
Shaista Wahab: There are a number international organizations providing aid to the people of Afghanistan. The over 20 years of war has destroyed the infrastructure of the country and it would take longer to reestablish the normality in Afghanistan
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Columbia, S.C.:
Hello: I was mesmorized by the documentary "Afghanistan Unveiled" that aired last night. It moved me to tears and I cannot get it out of my head. I cannot witness such hearfelt testimonies from women living in horrific turmoil and do nothing about it. I want to know how I, as an American, can work to make these women's lives better. I would not only like to know of an organization that you recommend contributing money too, but what kind of work can I do to help their lives. I have done mission work in Nicaragua, and also continually help to raise money for that cause. I am very compelled and motivated to help the Afghan women. Where do I start? Thank you for all that you do. You are a true blessing to the people of your country.
Sincerely, Amy
Shaista Wahab: I would recommend that you contact the Asia Foundation, based in San Francisco and find out more about where to start.
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Victoria, Tex.:
Shaista,
My name is Janna. My husband served in Afghanistan last year and my children and I collected over 2000 pounds of humanitarian aid in the form of clothes, shoes, toys,school supplies and hygiene products for 3 villages that my husband's unit adopted. American TV doesn't show the good that is being done. My family has sacrificed because we believe the people of Afghanistan, especially the women and children deserve a better life. By the end of their deployment, our family and other sent several tons of aid. We wanted to help and still do. I watched the film with my husband and we both cryed. We are thankful for the part we have had in helping Afghanistan. We will not forget this time in your history or our families. Afghanistan is a part of our family stories and memories now. We are planning an effort to send more things there. Where is the help most needed? We still have friends in the military there and they said they would help us get to a village if we send it to them but I would want it to go those who are in the most need. Thank you again for the film. It helped to explain to our children what their efforts were for and why they had to do without their father temporarily when many children in your country have to do so forever. Peace be with you.
Shaista Wahab: During the past several years schools and educational facilites were completely destroyed. I think the urgent need of the people of Afghanistan is improving their educational system. Many children still do not have classrooms and thelack of trained teachers is another problem.
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Charleston, S.C.:
Dear Shaista,
What an amazingly powerful film. I was amazed at it all.
Do you have hope for the future for Afghan women?
Thank you so much for the experience of viewing that country's stories.
Shaista Wahab: I am very much hopeful for the future of Afghan women.
The situation for women changed during the last ten years, and I believe that it is improving, but it will take time.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Professor Wahab,
Generally, what is the biggest misconception Americans have about Afghanistan? What do you think can be done to fix these wrong ideas in US culture?
Thanks
Shaista Wahab: I believe that it was a good idea that PBS is broadcasting this documentary. The people need to know more about Afghanistan, and we can educate people.
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Sewanee, Tenn.:
Hi--
As someone who has been "on the ground" in Afghanistan recently, what do you think of Harmid Karzai's election?
Shaista Wahab: I believe that Hamid Karzai was supported by the majority of the Afghan people. I spoke to many Afghans and they were supportive of Hamid Karzai.
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Shaista Wahab: The documentary was produced by 14 Afghan women journalist. They received training for one year on digital camera. They traveled to many provinces of Afghanistan and conducted 65 intreviews during a two months period.
The training changed the lives of the women journalists and they are currently working at Aina (French media in Kabul) and Afghanistan Radio/Television. They have produced another documentary (Shadow)
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Winchester, Va.:
Are you still in contact with the women reporters from the program?
Shaista Wahab: Yes,
I talk to them on occasions, and also met them when I was in Afghanistan a few months ago.
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Lexington, Ky.:
I've read in multiple sources the concerns Americans have about religious schools or madrases being breeding grounds for extremists. Most of these complaints seem to be about such schools in Saudi Arabia. Are such schools also in operation in Afghanistan? Does the new government say it will make education a prority?
Thank you!
Shaista Wahab: I am not aware of any religious schools as breeding grounds for the extremists in Afghanistan. The Afghan government is trying to make education avaiable to all children in Afghanistan, and many organizations are involved in producing textbooks for Afghan schools.
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Washington, D.C.:
Dear Ms. Wahab,
Do you think it could be said that the portrayal of the women in your program reflects the life of all women in impoverished Islamic countries?
Shaista Wahab: I would say that the lives of impoverished women in Afghanistan would resemble the lives impoverished people irrespective of their religion
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Vienna, Va.:
How long did it take you to complete filming and how much resources did you have supporting you on this endeavor?
Shaista Wahab: The filming of the documentary took about two months, and an additional two months for editing. The filiming started in November 2002 and the documentary was completed in March 2003.
The training was supported by the Asia Foundation, and I was a consultant and also taught the students about 8 weeks. The training was done by the Aina journalists.
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi--
We often hear about US troops in Iraq these days, but what do you think most Afghanis think about the US-led coalition troops in their country?
Shaista Wahab: I think that at this stage the Afghan government does not have a trained national army and the country needs help from the US-led coalition troops in the country. However, Afghanistan would need additional foreign troops to secure the entire country. The security forces are mainly in Kabul, and provinces need more troops to make is safer.
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Maryland:
Are women more vocal or do they have an open support group? I'm sure there is fear of many repercussions despite the fall of the Taliban and that Afghanistan is still a male dominated country.
What do the women reporters do now and what was the range of their age?
Shaista Wahab: Still many women fear the Taliban, and some women wear veil out of fear. Ministry of Women is established by Hamid Karzai, and most women are hopeful for their futures.
The students were between 18 and mid-30s. and they represented the various ethnic groups in Afghanistan. As far as I know most of the students work with media, and one student with in association with a British journalist produced another documentary (Shadow)
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Washington, D.C.:
Can you tell us in order what the major concerns for women in Afghanistan are? Also, do they foresee any woman in a states role?
Shaista Wahab: The situtation for women changed after 1992. Before 1992 women had equal rights with men and Afghan governments were supportive of women's rights. Women are hoping for better futures. The new Constitution in Afghanistan established women's rights, and about 25% of the participants of the Constitutional Loya Jirga were women. I am hopeful for better future for women.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
What are the current living situations in Afghanistan and are troops and human rights workers making it possible for women to either get an education or find work while raising their kids? I'm thinking that even though women want more freedom, they may not feel like they have the support while raising their families.
Shaista Wahab: The situation in Afghanistan still needs to be improved in all aspects. Economic situation, educational system, and social conditions of the people need to be improved. Refugees returning from neighboring countries of Pakistan and Iran do not have proper housing. Many returned refugees still live in ruined buildings, and tents.
I noticed a number of women in Kabul begging. They need need work. The international organizations create some jobs but still not enough. The government employees are getting monthly pay of equal to $40.00 a month, and the living conditions are high and their not sufficient to meet their needs. Most Afghans live in poverty.
Women were deprived from education and participating in social affairs of the country during the Taliban and they need special efforts to makeup for the lost years. Many women are singles and have lost their husband during the war. They have difficult time.
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Shaista Wahab: Thank you.
Shaista
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Shaista Wahab: Thanks
Shaista
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