United Nations: Mukhtar Mai, who has gained global attention by speaking out about her gang rape ordered by tribal leaders, will be invited back to speak at the UN after an initial appearance was quashed by Pakistani officials.
She had been scheduled to speak at the UN last Friday, the same day that Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Mai's event, which had been scheduled well in advance, was hastily cancelled the night before it was to take place.
"The day before, they called to say 'we have a problem, that the Pakistani mission wants to have the event cancelled,'" said Joan LaRovere, vice-president of the Virtue Foundation, the group that was sponsoring the event.
The mission wanted the event cancelled "because the prime minister was giving a press conference at the same time and it would be embarrassing", LaRovere said she was told by UN officials.
The spokesman for the UN secretary-general said on Wednesday that the UN would contact the Virtue Foundation and reschedule the event.
"It was an unfortunate incident," said Stephane Dujarric.
