CASE SPOTLIGHT
Solitary Soldier- A case of physical violence, Pakistan
The political party that I represent helped me in submitting my documents to the election commission that otherwise was really hard nut to crack. One day when I went to examine the voter’s list of work in my constituency, some men of the opposition party attacked me. One of them smashed my head with a heavy log. Although I needed several stitches after that, the incident remained unreported because of different social pressures. Now I am an elected councilor. But to tell you the truth, it is not worth it. My husband and family members taunt me every minute for not coming upto their domestic expectations. I don’t have any funds even to spend on the community. The community members don’t support me either. (Narseen Kausar, Chicha Watni, Pakistan)
Higher cost- A case of murder, India
Janaki Devi, a semi-literate and married woman of Purnia district of Bihar was murdered in her house on May 26 2006 because she refused to withdraw her candidacy from the local panchayat elections. After filing her nomination, she had started canvassing and the village people were totally in support of her candidature. The candidates belonging to other political parties namely Md. Habib and Md.Jamal saw Janaki Devi as a big threat to their political survival. They tried to persuade Janaki Devi and her husband to withdraw her candidature. When Janaki Devi and her family did not withdraw according to their request they threatened her. On the fateful day, around 2.00 a.m when she was in deep sleep, Janaki Devi's daughter heard the cries of her mother and saw her in a pool of blood. She accuses Mr.Habib Jalal and Mr.Ismail of killing her mother with a knife and fleeing . The villagers brought her mother to District Head Quarter, but her mother was already dead. Janaki Devi's family registered a case in the Babsy Police Station in Purnia. The case is not yet settled and her family remembers that sadly gory incident and asks whether any woman will dare enter into politics.[Janaki Devi, Purnai, Bihar, India]
Fulfilling the quota – A case of violence from within a party, Nepal
During the Constituent Assembly election, a woman candidate was pressurized by her party during the selection of a constituency. Despite being a resident of constituency 2 of Parsa, one of the party leaders forced her to get a nomination from constituency 1. Due to her poor economic situation she was not able to pay for her nomination at the Election Commission.. Her party didn’t give her any support and she had to take loans from her neighbors and relatives. Her nomination was made with the intention of only fulfilling the quota rather than recognizing her political contribution to her party. Due to the lack of financial resources and the lack of support from her party she was not able to campaign for the election (A woman candidate from Parsa-1, Nepal)
Questioning competency – A case of political violence, Afghanistan
Dr. Masooda Jalal was a victim of violent treatment during Taliban rule. She was the only female candidate to run for the Afghanistan presidential election of 2004, during the Emergency of Loya Jirga. Throughout her campaign, she was harassed and threatened by her opponents and various other extremists. This had been going on for a year before the actual elections and the main reason for this harassment was that they felt offended by the fact that a woman had the audacity to run for President. The media also used to attack her and pressure her into quitting but she stuck to the race as she felt that it should be the people judging her and not those who were attacking her. Unfortunately, she lost the Presidential Elections but was appointed Minister of Women They went on insulting her and waited for her to openly fail and embarrass herself. Her policy amendment proposals were turned down, she was not given an open platform to speak in public and it was made to look as if she was failing to take on the responsibilities that her post demanded of her. But she was not discouraged and kept at the fight, when she was finally making some progress, she was released from her post for an unclear reason and a campaign was launched to paint an incompetent picture of her. (Dr. Masooda Jalal, Former Minister for Women's Affair and Presidential candidate, Afghanistan)
Compromise with career – A case of quitting politics because of family pressure, Bangladesh
I was psychologically assaulted during the City Corporation election. The supporters of the opposition party threatened and rebuked me in front of my house. I was assigned to look after the 3 voting centres in a ward. I also nominated the polling agents for my party. The boys from the opposition party forbade them from going to the voting centre. Due to this threat there was no polling agent in the centre during the election. At that time cadres of the opposition party asked me to leave the place. As I did not agree one cadre got angry and broke the table that was in front of me. They started using bad words against me. I protested against this and a senior leader of my party took me home. When my husband came to know about it, he said that I had got a proper lesson and that I deserved it. He asked me why I went thereto which I replied, "I have to go. If you torture me or leave me you can but I can not leave politics.” Then he shouted at me saying I was like a prostitute as I used to enjoy their company. Then he started beating me with a stick. My confidence and respect for my husband went right away. After that he totally stopped all my political activities and threatened to divorce me if I kept any connection with them. I bear all this thinking of my kid’s future. From then on I neither took part in any political activity nor did I keep any connection with them. [Rangana (Anonymous), Bangladesh]
Who wants to work under a woman leader…? - A case of character assassination, Sri Lanka
I was nominated and elected as the only woman member of Nuwara Eliya Pradeshiya Sabha. Being a young chairperson I had to face heavy opposition from my male counterparts. They felt I was too young and therefore they did not like to work under me, a woman. Unavoidable circumstances and the pressure led me to resign from the post in just six months. The community also discouraged my involvement in any political activities saying politics was a dirty game to be involved in. I was very often hindered from speaking openly and honestly to the Minister in meetings. People thought it was unbecoming of a woman to speak with the Minister. Sometimes they even raised questions about my character, which has often hampered my marriage proposals. [Ceylon Worker’s Congress (CWC), Sri Lanka]
Case Sources:
Incidents that Changed the Course of Women Politicians: A case Study, SAP I
Analysis of CA Election from the Perspective of Representation And Violence against Women
Violence Against Women in Politics, Pakistan’s Perspective
