On the International Women Day, the Iranian writer Siba Shakib visited Bergen as the guest of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee and the “March 8th Initiative” in Bergen. Siba Shakib is the author of a book on Afghanistan entitled ”Where God Cries”. The book is a story of an Afghan woman, Shirin Gol, and her experience during the different regimes of Afghanistan.
During her visit, Siba Shakib gave lectures at the Christian Michelsen Institute, at the traditional March 8th demonstration in Bergen and at a meeting in “Logen”. She was also the main guest and speaker during a meeting in the theatre, where she was interviewed about her book and her experience in Afghanistan. Siba Shakib has been an advisor for the international military forces in Afghanistan, and she has also started a special project aimed at women in Kabul.
During the interview at the theatre, Siba Shakib said that she does not know the fate of Shirin Gol, the main person of the book, because there are no traces of her after September 11th. Shakib also said that the Afghans are doing their utmost in order to achieve peace, and that they will succeed. She is of the opinion that Hamid Karzai is the best leader the Afghan people have at the moment.
Ms. Shakib stated that earlier on, the most important issues for the Afghan people were education and security; today people are concerned about the economic and social development, both for the individuals and for the society as a whole. Furthermore, she said that education is of course also important, not only for the girls, but also for the boys. She continued that it is important that the Taliban changes its strategy, and that they also are being included within the society. Siba Shakib thinks that it is difficult to tell how Afghanistan will look in the future, and that it is up to the Afghans themselves to decide upon their own future.
“But they have to get rid of their pain before they can think about the future. Many Afghans have lost contact with their cultural roots, due to 30 years of war. Some even do not now how to cook food, as they have not done it during the last 10 years “ said Siba Shakib, who also read from her book “Afghan Poetry”, in Dari.
