VOA标准英语2012--New Internet Cafe Connects Afghan Women to World

New Internet Cafe Connects Afghan Women to World

There is barely room to move as women crowd around laptop computers in this small cafe in central Kabul.

The Afghan activist¹ group YoungWomen4Change runs the cafe as a safe place where women can access the Internet and exchange information without the unwanted attention of men.

"We are very pleased that we are inaugurating this cafe, which is located in a safe location and safe environment," said Eqlima Muradi. "This paves the way for women to come to our cafe and use our facilities."

The brightly-painted cafe is named after Sahar Gul, a teenaged girl who gained international attention after police found her severely² beaten in her husband's house in northern Baghlan province. Gul accused her husband and in-laws of torturing her.

"We named this after Sahar Gul because she suffered alot of atrocities³ and we want to comment on her bravery," she said. "We want her to know that we are proud of her."

Gul's case is not isolated⁴ in Afghanistan. During 1990s, the ruling Taliban banned women from going to work, getting an education, or even leaving their homes without a male escort .

Women's rights in Afghanistan have advanced since then, but activists⁵ say there is still a room for improvement.

For these Afghan women, this cafe with donated computers is one big step. 

1 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

2 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

3 atrocities   

n.邪恶，暴行( atrocity的名词复数 )；滔天大罪

参考例句：

• They were guilty of the most barbarous and inhuman atrocities. 他们犯有最野蛮、最灭绝人性的残暴罪行。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The enemy's atrocities made one boil with anger. 敌人的暴行令人发指。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

5 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》