Women Afghanistan

I was surprised by Susan Spano's question ("Writers Who Have Gone Before Us Evoke Afghanistan's Past and Present," Her World, Jan. 6). She asks, "How much more dangerous, demoralized and dilapidated must it be now, after U.S. bombing, the exodus of millions of Afghans to neighboring countries and the demise of the Taliban?" Because of the demise of the Taliban, I would imagine that the women of Afghanistan would feel liberated, energized and full of hope for their future. ENO CLEVERINGA Newbury Park

Fifty-one female engineers graduated from a refresher course at Kabul University, some after updating skills that went unused because of the Taliban's discrimination against them. The students, all of whom are graduate engineers, received refresher instruction in civil engineering and water and sanitation engineering, including public health projects. Under the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban government, which was ousted by a U.S.

Mavis Leno's work on behalf of women in Afghanistan is to be applauded as much as Jay Leno's monologues. In patriarchal societies, women's freedom is considered subversive, taboo. The human rights of women are not taken into account because women are seen as belonging to their governments, husbands and children. We can only hope that a public figure such as Mavis Leno will bring urgent attention to these issues. Women and girls must be given their rights, education, medical care, protection from violence and respect as human beings.

Mavis Leno, wife of "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno, will chair a March 29 program at the Directors Guild of America that aims to shed light on human rights abuses against women in Afghanistan. The event--to be written, directed and produced by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason and Harry Thomason--aims to bring exposure to what organizers call a system of "gender apartheid" by the ruling Taliban regime.

Re the letter from Doris Melnick printed Nov. 22 ("I'm sorry, but Jay and Mavis Leno's donation of $100,000 just doesn't deserve all the publicity. I figure with his salary, that would be the equivalent of me giving $50. Big deal."): If Doris Melnick would look past the nose she turned up at the Leno donation, she would realize that while Jay Leno does not need the publicity, the fight for oppressed women in Afghanistan desperately does. I had been concerned about the Taliban's treatment of women but until the Leno donation had not known exactly what to do about it. Thanks to the publicity, I now know what to do: Send a donation to the Feminist Majority Foundation, 8105 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048.

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said the next leader of Afghanistan must restore women's rights and give them a voice in government. "The rights of the women in Afghanistan will not be negotiable," Powell said. At a White House briefing, Powell said U.S. officials have stressed to potential leaders that Afghan women, especially those with professional skills, would be an invaluable asset in bringing order to a country already decimated by war and the brutality of the Taliban.

The FBI is investigating the apparent disappearance of an estimated $1 million in donations that about 200 nonprofits reported losing when the organization that handled their finances abruptly shut down this year, forcing some groups to curtail their charity work. The head of one nonprofit said two FBI agents specializing in white collar crime interviewed her in April about the International Humanities Center, and the director of another said she has been asked to meet with agents this month.