As a visiting husband and wife walked through the narrow alley ways, it was hard to believe that a small half-way house was nestled in amongst all the other buildings where day-time shelter, food, and medical care are provided for drug addicted prostitutes. That was their destination. They might also meet children there: if they are very young, they often accompany their mothers coming to the shelter.
Sometimes the women are offered the opportunity to do crafts, in order to keep their hands busy. Or a class might take place for them to learn how to protect themselves from getting or spreading HIV AIDS. They might even watch some television as a means of passing the day time low period, before their sex work begins again in the evening.
As the visiting woman mingled with the women, one thing that shook her was how broken, trapped and destitute the prostitutes were. Their exterior behavior was, of course, tough. They were very depressed, angry at life, sickly-looking and addicted to the drugs that sedate them from facing the reality of their situation. They gave off a hard, tense atmosphere that was very depressing. This echoed in the small house sheltering these women, which was packed with women. It was an unpleasant environment with some very unruly behavior to add to the mix.
The visiting woman couldn’t help looking at one little boy who was with his mother at the shelter that day. He was very shy and thin, and probably not more than four years old, but his mother had at least combed his hair and put clothes on him. His two top front teeth were missing. He was very wary and mistrusting of the visiting husband and wife as the husband tried to befriend the boy. They suspected he had been sexually molested by men. However, when a female approached the little boy, he responded positively to her gentle playful actions.
The couple left the half-way house and went home, but the wife couldn't get this little boy out of her mind. She was shaken to the core of her heart. She was moved to tears for him, the poor little fellow. She felt so sorry for him, and very angry that this little one has had to suffer so much, because of his mother's life style. There was the feeling of helplessness. What can we do to try and help the women and the little children like this young boy? How will they ever get set free from his hellish nightmare lifestyle? What can the community do to help these people especially the children? Does anyone care?
Such is the life of many women and children along the Silk Road. From Turkey to Iran to Afghanistan to China, and yes, even all around the world in all countries, women and children are suffering. The European Union on human rights has tried to address the issue. However, these are internal affairs. As societies continue to fall into despair, it fuels the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. When people are without hope, they will cling to anything that promises them a better life. Too often these Muslim women are seen as worthless because of their life style. But are they? Don't they have a soul and a brain and feelings just like the rest of society? As with all of us, peace with God is what they need along with the forgiveness of their sins. These children of Abraham and Ishmael are in need of hope. All across central Asia, the Turks, Persians, Turkmen, Uzbeks, Kasakhs, Kyrgys, Uighurs, Azeris, and other people groups need more than economic hope. They need true spiritual hope. One of eternal life.
This region of the world is headed towards possible turmoil. When the United States pulls out of Iraq at the end of 2011, will peace prevail? Or will Islamic fundamentalists attempt to take control leading to the possibility of more civil strife. Multiple countries could be involved in war, the price of oil would sky rocket, and the world economy would sink into another major recession and possibly even a depression. This would be catastrophic for the poor especially women and children of the region.
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