Читать книгу Gathering Strength: - Peggy Kelsey - Страница 29

Masiha

Defense Lawyer

Defending women is very important work, especially in Afghanistan. When I started my work here, there were no female defense lawyers. Now there are 54 of us.

When I asked Masiha’s employer, Medica Mondiale (MM), to connect me with an attorney, I received what may have been a form letter explaining that interviewing trauma survivors, even using a caring, sensitive approach, may re-traumatize them. MM’s question, "Is the interview really necessary?" strengthened my belief that, for my book, it was not, so I didn’t ask Masiha to introduce me to any of her clients. The organization’s concern for trauma survivors’ well-being deepened my respect for MM. I interviewed Masiha in the group’s conference room.

Even as a child, Masiha was very interested in studying law and political science. She graduated from Kabul Law School, having studied secular law, Sharia¹ law, and political science during her four years there. After graduation, she took courses for defense lawyers given by the Afghan Women Lawyers Council (AWLC).² Her goal was to work in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. When that didn’t work out, she became a defense lawyer. She’s been defending women since 2004.