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July 22, 2007 06:48 PM PDT
Interview with Sonali Kolhatkar, co-director of the group Afghan Women's Mission. Interview conducted by Melinda Tuhus.
Amid rising violence in his country, Afghan president Hamid Karzai visited Washington May 23rd and expressed his desire for more autonomy for his government, largely under U.S. control since the 2001 American invasion. Mr. Karzai also denounced the mistreatment of prisoners detained by the U.S. military and asked for the return of all Afghan prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay Naval base in Cuba back to Afghanistan. But he got little satisfaction from President George W. Bush who only addressed the issue vaguely. At least two Afghan men have died in U.S. custody at the American Bagram Air Force base in Afghanistan.
Sonali Kolhatkar is co-director of the Afghan Women's Mission, based in Los Angeles, who last visited Afghanistan in February. Kolhatkar, a radio host at L.A.'s KPFK Radio, asserts that the majority of Afghans elected Hamid Karzai president last year based largely on his vow not to compromise with the warlords who opposed the Taliban but who have a history of violent and misogynist behavior.
Between The Lines' Melinda Tuhus spoke with Kolhatkar, who explains why many Afghans are upset with Karzai's recent actions that they believe betray his campaign promises. She also provides an update on the status of Afghanistan's women.
Contact the Afghan Women's Mission by calling (626) 676-7884 or visit their website at www.afghanwomensmission.org. Get more information on the status of Afghanistan's women by visiting the website of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan at www.rawa.org
Show duration: 30 min
Release date: May 26, 2005
A "Between the Lines" radio show WPKN 89.5 FM: http://www.btlonline.org
"Between the Lines," weekly radio news magazine
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