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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Afghanistan Women Form Underground Society to Educate Girls

Aired September 28, 2001 - 08:04   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Under the Taliban rulers, Afghanistan is a Muslim fundamentalist society where only men have any rights. Some women are risking their lives in an underground organization just to provide girls with a basic education.

More on this now from our senior Asia correspondent Mike Chinoy.

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CHINOY: The plight of women, just one aspect of the humanitarian catastrophe that's been unfolding in Afghanistan -- Paula.

ZAHN: Mike, these women are so brave. How is it that they have been able to so successfully set up this underground society given the constant threats to their life?

CHINOY: It is remarkable the bravery of these women. They do lead an underground existence. Even here in Pakistan to arrange our meeting with them, to get the videotapes that they had secretly shot required a fair amount of cloak and dagger kind of operation here because they don't have an office, they're afraid of attacks from Taliban supporters here in Pakistan, but these women feel they really have no choice. They feel they're under attack, that their lives are in jeopardy all the time and they want to do what they can to fight back. It is -- it is remarkable their bravery.

ZAHN: And very, very sad at the same time. Mike Chinoy, thank you so much for that report.

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