It has been a sad start to 2008 for Muslim women all over the world. The brutal death of Benazir Bhutto certainly is a setback for women in this region.

During the election campaigns the Bhutto government voiced its concern for women’s social and health issues, including the issue of discrimination against women. Bhutto announced plans to establish women’s police stations, courts, and women’s development banks. Despite these plans, Bhutto did not propose any legislation to improve welfare services for women while in office. But despite this she served as an example and a icon for millions of women and men everywhere in this region.

I hope and pray that more women like her will rise and give women equal rights,safety,justice and education as men.

I hope we will see strong leadership also in the western part of the world. And I hope to see many strong and powerful women step into positions of influence.

I hope Hillary Clinton will answer that wish. It doesn’t look that way in the polls. Sadly the christian man dominated right in America will do everything it can to hinder a women from being president. I don’t want to compare it entirely with the way female politicians are treated in Pakistan but there are similarities.

I believe woman rights and womans position also in the muslim world will be affected in a positive way if United States of America does elect there first woman president. And so will all the women of the world.