Call for Action in Defence of Malalai Joya, Initiated by Her Italian Supporters

Coordinamento Italiano Sostegno Donne Afghane, June 10, 2007

Dear friends, Malalai Joya supporters,

What happened to suspended Afghanistan Parliament Member Malalai Joya, to the 2 female journalists recently killed, to the women jailed for the most futile pretexts, are serious signs of women's issues in Afghanistan.

The demonstrations that have been organized in Afghanistan's cities (Herat, Kabul, Farah, Jalalabad, Takhar, Pul-e-Kumri) in support of Malalai Joya are courageous actions.

For this reason we are asking all supporters of Malalai Joya to organize for the 21st June (it will be a month since her removal from Parliament) sit-ins and pacific demonstrations in front of embassies or diplomatic afghan premises, local government premises, UN premises etc. with pictures of Malalai Joya and bills in which denounce the situation and asking to reinstate Malalai in parliament, asking that the killing of women would stop, that the victims of domestic violence or women jailed for reasons of honour are liberated and given protection.

It is not important if in those sit-ins will participate a large number of people: the most important think is to held it and to send its pictures (or even movie clips) to the Defence Committee for Malalai Joya, that could be given to Afghan media, so the Afghan people - and government - would know that western people is able to express real solidarity.

In Italy we are organizing sit-ins in three cities: Rome, in front of Afghan Embassy, Milan, in the centre of the city, Trieste, in front of the government premises. The Spanish supporters are doing the same in Madrid and Barcelona.

Please, let us know if you manage to organize even a little event in your country, so we can communicate to the media. You can keep in touch with Laura Quagliuolo lauqua@tiscali.it with CC to mj@malalaijoya.com.

We hope to hear from you very soon.

COORDINAMENTO ITALIANO SOSTEGNO DONNE AFGHANE Onlus
lauqua@tiscali.it

http://www.malalaijoya.com