An e-mail I received this week from a reader in Denmark in response to my column last Sunday on Kristoff's story of the gang rape of Mukhtaran Bibi in her village in southern Punjab printed in the New York Times on September 29:

"Your article 'Jirga injustice' made me search for the NYT article. What made me more sad than the article itself were the e-mails exchanged by the readers of that article. This shows the image that Pakistan and Islam have in the West. Just makes me feel extremely helpless."

She then lists various reactions and exchanges between readers, some of which are reproduced hereunder merely to illustrate how we are rated:

" 'So although I did not find Osama, I did encounter a much more ubiquitous form of evil and terror: a culture, stretching across about half the globe, that chews up women and spits them out.' Kristoff hits the nail on its head right there. He is one liberal I respect, because he is at least honest and (sometimes) willing to see past tolerance and political correctness. Here he brings up an injustice that many liberals are all to willing too ignore."

"Islam, the religion of peace. That would be called Islam...even if you can't bring yourself to say it. It could be worse, the Taliban would execute these women in the local soccer stadium as a 'half-time' show...".

"USD 8,000 isn't much money, but she should have taken it and gotten out of there. To where, I don't know - but anywhere, other than that village."

" 'Mukhtaran is totally disgraced,' Taj Bibi, a matriarch in a high-status family, said with satisfaction. 'She has no respect in society.' It is only fair to point out that a great many women seem to avidly support this system. It is not as simple as 'the boys against the girls'."

"I wonder how much operating expenses for the school are? Does anyone know how to get hold of the writer? We might be able to pool some money and help them out... It's a pity Kristoff didn't post a charity where we could contribute for this school."

"It is only fair to point out that a great many women seem to avidly support this system, is one comment. I would doubt any estimate that says a 'great many'.... It's like a church congregation where there are deacons and their wives who have a status over the many. They speak out. It seems the same is the case here. After all, it is a 'religious society'.

"'Main Entry: re7li7gion Pronunciation: ri-'li-j&n Function: noun Etymology: Middle English religioun, from Latin religion-, religio supernatural constraint, sanction, religious practice, perhaps from religare to restrain, tie back - more at Rely 1 a: the state of a religious b (1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance 2: a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices 3 archaic: scrupulous conformity: Conscientiousness 4: a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardour and faith'. And it is Fundamentalism/ Islam that is the problem."

"I firmly believe that the central moral challenge of this century, equivalent to the struggles against slavery in the 19th century or against totalitarianism in the 20th, will be to address sex inequality in the Third World."

"I suspect that pretty much all of the high status women in this village support their high status, although perhaps not the rape itself. Interestingly enough, when Kristoff says 'high status' what he really means is 'high-caste'.

However, since these villagers are Muslim, which specifically rejects the idea of caste, we must all pretend that this is not what is going on here. The idea of caste, held over from Hinduism, is why the men doing the raping here are not defiled by the act of intercourse with a 'low-status' female.

"I think it is the duty of Islam, as of every other religion that wants to be recognized as 'civilized', to explicitly oppose such practices."

"Whatever became of the proud liberal tradition of multiculturalism and tolerance. Also want to point out that I don't ... consider Islam to be an advanced religion.... because of its failure to oppose terrorism, honour killings, etc. They clean up their act and I'll reconsider."

"It just irritates me that so many Muslims and their defenders demand the same respect as the other Abrahamic religions, while tolerating or promoting such barbarity. (In actual fact, of course, they demand superior respect.)"

"Of course, if they speak out against the system, they'll become it's next victims, so they really have little choice but to say they support it. Might as well ask a North Korean what he/she really thinks of Dear Leader."

"This is one brave and generous woman to be admired. If only she knew how much respect she has in the West. This sounds like a wonderful conservative woman - to survive that and start a school. I would donate to her cause if I had an address - anyone got an idea?"

" 'Mukhtaran is totally disgraced,' Taj Bibi, a matriarch in a high-status family, said with satisfaction. 'She has no respect in society'. No, Taj. Ms. Mukhtaran is a heroine."

The world takes our majority thinking as being primitive and bigoted, and behaving as we do, we can but accept this. Be that as it may, Kristoff's article has succeeded in raising a good deal of money for Mukhtaran Bibi.

My advice to him is to hang on to what has come in to him until a suitable fund can be organized to receive it. According to the Aurat Foundation, Mukhtaran is already surrounded by 'leeches' and I am sure Kristoff, like many of us, would not wish her to be further harassed.

More sad news on this same issue. The November 12 issue of this newspaper (Metropolitan section) carried a headline: 'Law to replace jirga system next year' - this is misleading. According to a PPI report: "The Sindh government is considering to issue an ordinance to empower a pious man for resolving disputes in rural areas of the province."

The ordinance will be above all court decisions, including that of the Sindh High Court last April declaring jirgas to be illegal. The 'pious' individual is defined as "the man who is respected by local people of his area, the people repose trust in him, and he would be nominated by all the parties involved in the dispute."

Our president, General Pervez Musharraf, has to step in on this issue, and firmly. There is nothing wrong or odd with his first priority - to stay in power as long as possible. But by righting glaring wrongs (which his government cannot do) he will at least appease those who rightly or wrongly support him.

Afterthought: As for all the 'good' news about investments flowing in, and job opportunities opening up everywhere, let me tell friend Shaukat Aziz about an old Ava Gardner film (which he may also have seen).

A North American and a South American are wooing for the favours of this most beautiful woman. Says the North American, 'And what is more, I am a good American. I keep all my money in my country.' The South American defends himself: 'I am also a good American. I also keep all my money in your country, it is safe there.' Good luck to Shaukat. May he for long enjoy being prime minister of Pakistan.