Jordan Times
Sunday, April 25, 2004
'Follow the women — they are here for peace'
By Rami Abdelrahman
AMMAN — Around 220 women from 26 countries across the globe are in Amman, after cycling all the way from Lebanon, to promote peace in the region, and “raise awareness of how the current situation within the Middle East affects the lives of women and children, and to raise support for a move towards peace and greater understanding.”
They are hard at work, at a two-day conference in the capital, formulating a “cause for action” — a series of project partnerships between Middle Eastern and mostly European countries — in which women will take a leading role in combating violence against women and plan peace-oriented youth projects.
HRH Princess Basma addressed participants at the “Follow the women” conference on Saturday, welcoming their efforts and saying she felt “extremely proud” to be associated with them.
“The path that these women have made forms part of the longer journey towards peace that we must all travel. And clearly, as events in this region demonstrate, the road to peace is long and arduous. It will take continued determination and political will to stick to the road to peace in spite of the obstacles encountered on the way,” Princess Basma said.
“The ride is typical of the innovative spirit of many of the initiatives that have taken place through the Euro-Med partnerships... which brought together young people from the region to forge new relationships, just as it is now bringing together groups of women to form new friendships,” the Princess said, adding “(for women) the sky is the limit.”
Sahar Fayez, one of the organisers, said preparations took at least one year for what started out as a “crazy idea.” She added that the participants should initiate the next step, and said she hoped similar rides and conferences would be held here annually.
Founder of the Swedish-based “Follow the women” group, Detta Regan, said no matter how “bumpy” the road to peace could be, the will and determination of women prove that they can overcome any obstacles.
Abeer Ammareen, a 24-year-old Jordanian participant, called on the people of the world to “follow the women, they are here for peace.”
Twenty-one-year-old Husnieh Barahmeh, from the occupied Palestinian city of Jericho said: “I dream of peace, and I dream that next time we will be able to ride in a free Palestine.”
She told The Jordan Times that Palestinian women were suffering the most during the current conditions in the territories.
Iraqi participant Hala Mowafaq agreed.
“We are the most affected by the unstable security situation in Iraq, which limits our freedom as women... I am here to prove that Iraqi women want peace and want to ride the next time from a free Iraq to a free Palestine,” she told The Jordan Times, adding that the Kingdom is like her second home.
A 27-year-old Portuguese participant, who majored in Middle Eastern Studies in university, said dialogue strengthens women in fighting for what they believe in.
“Unfortunately many Europeans have misconceptions on women who wear the veil. For example, they do not know that they wear it because they choose to do so,” said Sonia Figueiredo.
Swedish Mimoza Mehmeti, a 19-year-old participant, concurred, saying Arab women are viewed in Europe as uneducated and poor. “But now that I am here, and have dealt with Arab women, I know for a fact that Arab women are as educated and smart as any others.
Nevruz Tol, a Turkish journalist, told The Jordan Times that the ride and conference presented a message to the world that women have the will to develop their countries and improve their living conditions.
“The next step should be something concrete, the world must not forget about the peoples of the Middle East and their rights to live in peace,” she said.
The “Follow the women” weeklong bicycle ride started off in Beirut last Monday, passing through the refugee camps of Sabra and Shatilla, the Palestinian refugee camps of Bushra Sham in Syria, and Damascus, on the way to Amman.
Participants said they felt welcomed wherever they went, especially in Jordan where they were greeted by crowds cheering them all the way from the border with Syria to Amman.