Imagine ...

You are a young woman living in a small village.

Your brother is accused of a crime, and to punish him and your family, the judges sentence you to be gang-raped.

Four of your neighbors carry out the sentence in the middle of the village square. Afterwards, they force you to walk home, naked. They, and the judges, believe you will commit suicide out of shame.

But you do not kill yourself. Instead, you seek the prosecution of your tormentors, many of whom are sent to death row. With the money from your settlement, you start two schools in your village, because you believe in the redemptive power of education. Because you cannot read, you enroll in your own elementary school.

Others hear of your story, and send money, ensuring that your schools will thrive. You begin to plan other humanitarian projects. You are a living example of courage, character, and hope for women all over the world. And then ...

... then, your government decides to overturn the ruling in your case. Your attackers are being released. They will come back to your village, where you cannot avoid them. If you go into hiding, your schools will be in jeopardy. If you do not go into hiding, you may be killed.

I wish I lived in a world where this story was fiction. I know there are a lot of worthy places to put your charitable money, but if you have any to spare, I can't think of a better person to give it to than Mukhtar Mai.