Exiled Pakistani Women's Rights Journalist Joins U of S

Posted March 29, 2006


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Wednesday, March 29, 2006 2006-03-17-OTHER

Exiled Pakistani Women's Rights Journalist Joins U of S

A Pakistani journalist who had to leave her home country after being hunted
by Islamic fundamentalists will spend a year at the University of
Saskatchewan as part of PEN Canada's Writers in Exile program, the first
placement of its kind for the university.

Ameera Javeria begins her year as PEN Canada Visiting Scholar in May. While
at the U of S, she will continue writing In the Line of Fire, her book
examining crimes committed against women in Pakistan.

"Although most crimes are not sanctioned by religion, the fundamentalist
right validates and justifies horrific occurrences like honour crimes by
lending it religious currency," says Javeria, who is particularly interested
in the impact of Islam's Sharia laws in today's world.

As well as furthering her research, Javeria will teach two courses. One, for
the department of English, will focus on professional journalism with
emphasis on women's rights struggles in Pakistan. The other, for the
department of women's and gender studies, will explore trans-national
feminism.

"Coming to Saskatoon and teaching at the U of S is a dream come true for
me," she says. "It will give me a chance to be in an academic environment,
travel and make new friends. The opportunity of sharing expertise is very
significant for me. I am grateful the U of S is giving me this chance to
expand on my research."

As a journalist, Javeria has focused extensively on women's rights in
Islamic societies. Last year, she received the Helman Hammet award from the
Human Rights Watch for her courageous work in Pakistan. She was unable to
continue working safely for The Frontier Post, a premier daily newspaper in
Pakistan, after it was torched by protesters. She chose to leave the country
shortly after.

In addition to her research and writing work, she has been active in North
America as visiting scholar at the Institute for Research on Women and
Gender at the University of Michigan. She also holds a graduate degree in
journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa.

"I hope the U of S and PEN Canada will continue as partners in future
'Writers in Exile' initiatives," says English department head Paul Bidwell.
"Students, faculty, and staff will certainly be enriched by the presence of
such writers in our community."

PEN Canada is a non-profit organization that works on behalf of writers, at
home and abroad, who have been forced into silence for writing the truth as
they see it. Javiera's placement is funded by PEN Canada's Royal Bank Writer
Fellowship for New Canadians, the U of S President's Office, the College of
Arts and Science, and the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

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For more information, contact:

Ameera Javeria
PEN Canada Visiting Scholar
(734) 604-1458
Meer_j@hotmail.com

David Hutton
Research Communications
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6490
dave.hutton@usask.ca
www.usask.ca/research


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