Time magazine this week has a feature on the bizarre story of the mysterious disappearance of Afghanistan's only female, Olympics-bound runner. The 19-year-old Afghan middle distance runner, Mehbooba Andyar, went missing in Italy last week while on her way to the Olympics in China. Friends and co-athletes have not seen her since July 4, when she left her training facility in Formia, Italy.
Police are not ruling out any possibilities, although her missing bags and passport do indicate that she may have left on her own. Some believe she's seeking asylum in Europe over fear of Muslim extremists in her homeland where she faced constant rumors of prostitution and repeated threats of violence.
In a recent interview, Andyar said, "I'm the model for my country, being a woman in a typical Muslim nation. I'm very proud to say that I will be participating in the Olympic Games. By virtue of these opportunities, many women from my country are participating in many sports, and this will help to develop a better managed country."
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Marshall Ward
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I really hope she turns up unharmed. She is a role model for all women and I breath of fresh air from all the devastation in Afghanistan. Speaking of which, my heart goes out to the families of the 8(+) American soldiers killed in clashes with the Taliban this weekend. May they rest in peace.
1I hope that she turns up safe it would break my heart to find out if something happened to her, after everything she's gone through to think she was this close to her dream and to have some idiot do something just makes my blood boil.
2I hope she turns up safe and sound and is granted asylum in a Country which will allow her to continue to be a role model for women everywhere.
There's something inherently cruel about any Nation which does not revere women and allow them the same rights as men. The Nation and the Religion should not be the same entity because the one should inspire the other to the greater good of all.
3Gob Bless her. I hope she is doing well where ever she is. Maybe she just needed an out from the misery of her country. She probably worked hard to get a visa and got away, the only way she can. I just hope the best for her and others suffering from the war and lifestyle she was forced to accept. My prayers are with her.
I am a Christian and know there are many in her country, but they are persecuted for not following the Muslim belief. I will pray for her and God will do his will.
Thank you for allowing me to express myself.
4"I'm just messin' with ya" said Obama in his equivocating quasi-repudiation of comedian Mac's "ho" jokes. I guess that means to Obama "ho" jokes are OK. It's sickening. Women are more abused and subjugated for their gender than any race ever was for its color. This is not funny business, and if he's not going to firmly stand up for women, without equivocation, he is just another misogynist, and they come in all colors.
5I hope she is OK, she is brave.
Hi Everybody!
Aren't we all now SO glad that our governments have been SO successful at exporting democrocy?Aren't we glad that they are
dealing with the "bad" guy's?Don't they understand the glory of democratic values in Afganistan? They sure took care of those w.m.d.! OOps! you mean NONE of that was really the reason? Oil? Capital?Finance? Haliburton? The Carlyle group? capital investments?
How could you say such a thing?!
After all,look at the GREAT job they have done "exporting"democrocy!
reverend aggacitto
6The Taliban probably forced her to leave. They probably kidnapped her family and will kill them if she doesn't return. Taliban are worse than cavemen. I cannot believe the world let's them exist and do what they do to women! It's dispicable. Educate yourself on those barbarians and you will understand that the entire WORLD should be ashamed to have let them live on this earth for one more day. May they ALL burn in he11!!!!
7There is a more current version of the story from a couple of days ago. She has been found and is seeking asylum in Norway:
8http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article4304884.ece
Thanks for the update! That's good to know there wasn't foul play involve, but I imagine her battle is far from over.
9To the gentelman who made the comment about "many are being persecuted for not following the Muslim belief." There is nothing in the Sunnah that says long distance running is Haram or that woman cannot run long distance and a large number of Muslims know this. She is not being persecuted for not following Islam she is just being persecuted. You sir are just adding to the Anti-Islam uninformed media commentary about Islam, wich is essentially racist. Christianity (which you mentioned) does not hold a monopoly on peace and love. You should read about Islam before you comment. For the record I am not a Muslim.
10God bless her. I am glad to know no foul play was involved.
11Keep rockin' Mehbooba for women in your country & everywhere!!
Get a life? Because he's making a cogent point about the state of a nation's crumbling political infrastructure that we took responsibility for and the reaping of that failure embodied in a woman trying to escape? I think you should look a little harder at people's comments before you attack them personally, monga. If that is, in fact, your real name.
12I really hope she is missing by her own doing.
13Someone just wrote attacking the christian for speaking his beliefs, why does this monga assume that he doesn't know anything about Islam. Yes I understand that she was being persecuted for being a runner she said nothing of being a christian. So yes he kinda missed the point. I think he just kinda through that statement in there. But you just did the same thing you accused him of, think about it, YOU JUST PERSECUTED CHRISTIANITY! Accusing him of saying that christianity is not the be all end of of love and peace. Well JESUS is! And because I live in this country called the US I have the right to say that and so does he. He wasn't even being nasty, he just said I hope that she is okay, his only fault was missing the point of the article. You on the other hand monga were being very nasty. Does the name of Jesus or christians offend you? Remember we live in a country that gives us the right to speak our opinion, to practice religious freedom. By you defending islam you were inturn attacking his beliefs, which made you no better than he, who by the way was not attacking islam. Just stating a fact that christians over there do in fact get persecuted for there beliefs, they do not have the religous freedom we do. Please next time before YOU speak up make sure YOUR facts are straight first, I will pray for your soul you sound like you have a lot of anger. Jesus loves you, and is waiting for you to accept him as your Lord and Savior! Praise the lord for the freedom we have to say this!
14sorry correction tyrrellmusic, people need pictures on this thing. Anyway love ya to Monga!! lol!
15well...this was an interesting influx of comments
16I am thankful she was found safe and sound. I hope she gets asylum and can lead a safe, normal, happy life!!!
17Reverend, there are plenty of political blogs for whiney liberals. Please grab a box of puffs, a teddy bear, call mommy & enjoy. I am glad that she was found safe. It is a shame that Muslim women can not feel safe being more than a sex toy for hubby, bear children & keep house. Don't get me wrong. My husband is head of our household. I also afford him the respect taught in the word of God. Hey, I have every reason to respect the man that calls me his beautiful princess, even though I am of average looks. My husband is so wonderful & handsome. I look forward to posting again soon. I do not get online often. We usually have something going with business or Church. MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!!
18I'm glad to hear she's back! I hope she gets exactly what she needs.
19Janeo The Obama campaign does not condone Mac's jokes (which he should have known was inapropriate).
http://omg.yahoo.com/news/bernie-mac-makes-off-color-joke-at-obama-event...
20he = mac should have known better
21does anyone else feel like this post was just attacked by a couple of trolls?
22We got connected to Yahoo, so we were attacked, weirdly enough, by yahoos.
23Rac, you always make me laugh!
24lotsoflove, u changed the meaning of what tyrrellmusic said.
"Christianity (which you mentioned) does not hold a monopoly on peace and love" This what tyrellmusic said. In your sentence you left out the word "monopoly"
tyrellmusic mentioned that Christianity does not have a monopoly on love & peace. That does NOT mean that Christianity is NOT a religion of "love & peace." It only means that Christianity is not the ONLY religion of "love & peace". Get it.
In fact, I applaud his/her comments. We have to respect all culture & religions. You cannot have civilized society when you lack notion of pluralism.
I can understand how people of Afghanistan have suffered from draconian Taliban regime & I pray that they have a better future w/ eradication of the extreme Taliban regime.
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