This is a housing project in Meaux. Ni Putes Ni Soumises led a march and rally there in honor of a woman, Kavidha Bala, who was burned alive by her husband, in front of her eight-year-old daughter, in the middle of this housing project in November 2009.
A number of young women approached me while I was there and asked me if she survived or no. Kavidha still remains in a nearby hospital and clings to life. She is a survivor and a fighter. Over 70% of her body had been burned.
Her husband is a much older cousin of hers. Kavidha is an immigrant from India. Her husband traveled to India and married her there, before bringing her to France with him.
Kavidha has been in France for many years now. She has learned the French language and how to read and write in French.
During this time, her husband abused her. Neighbors frequently called the police.
Finally, Kavidha managed the strength and resolve to separate from her husband. They had been separated for several months when he set her on fire.
Because Kavidha and her husband are close relatives, and given the conservative and religious nature of the family, the family has been trying to keep the situation quiet.
Ni Putes Ni Soumises will not allow Kavidha to be silenced. We will rise up in her honor and take to the streets, demanding human dignity for her and all victims of gender violence.
The Fight Against Violence Perpetrated Against Women has been named the Grand National Cause of France for 2010.
A woman approached our group and chastised us in Arabic, indicating that a woman's responsibility is to obey her husband and remain confined to the home, if he so desires.
As we left the housing project in Meaux, a group of young men engaged us in conversation.
They denied that violence against women was in any way a significant problem in either the projects or in France.
Our fight continues.
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