KABUL - Hundreds of veiled Afghan widows held a tearful protest Tuesday to demand the release of a kidnapped Italian woman who cared for them.
"If you don't give Clementina back, you can kill all of us," said Quandi Gul, 47, a mother of seven.
She was one of more than 200 widows, most covered from head-to-toe in traditional burqas, who demonstrated for the release of Clementina Cantoni 32. Cantoni, an Italian working for CARE International, had managed since September 2003 a project which provides food and income-generating activities for 11,000 widows and their children, the agency said in a statement.
Under a hot, cloudless sky in a neighbourhood badly damaged by civil war, the widows raised their hands in prayer and asked for Cantoni's release.
"Kidnap of Clementina will be an eternal shame for cruel kidnappers," said one of their banners.
"You see, in the name of God, we have a lot of children. That's why they have to give Clementina back to us," said Shirin Hossain, 60, her face drenched with tears.
"She was very kind, always asking us about our problems, food, health and children."
Fatma Khudabakhsh, 35, said Cantoni is "like my mother, sister and child."
She said Cantoni arrived twice a week with rice, flour, beans and salt for the widows, and set up a poultry project that allowed the women to sell eggs at the bazaar.
"I hope these people will let her go as soon as possible," Khudabakhsh said.
Cantoni was dragged from her car by armed men in the Qala-e-Mosa district of Kabul on Monday. Police said a gang claimed responsibility for her abduction and said they would release her in exchange for their detained leader, Tela Mohammed, and several accomplices.
"Give us Clementina back, because we are widows, and we have nothing else," said Diljan, 30, a mother of six, her voice choked with emotion.
05/17/2005 11:31 GMT