Human Rights and the Muslim World; Pakistan in Particular

During the Question-and-Answer session at a recent documentary showing event in the Bay Area [http://www.friendsofsouthasia.org/events/tfsa04/], someone asked something to the effect of "We keep talking about Human Rights problems [in the context of Pakistan], but is there any hope? Where's the silver lining?"

My answer included pointing out that there are people struggling for Human Rights in Pakistan and it is that struggle, for example, that has given the world the person that was, till very recently, the UN's Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Arbitrary and Summary Executions. A web search tells me, she has just been appointed...well, take a look:

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_5-8-2004_pg7_16

Asma Jehangir is a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan [http://www.hrcp-web.org/], and has served as Secretary-General and later as Chair of the same. This group is often the lone voice against things that are against humanity in my country--often having to go against the interests of "the West". Like being the only ones to speak up against a military coup.