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Connect the World
Jason Rezaian Verdict Remains Unknown; Thousands Gather to Remember Bomb Attack Victims in Ankara; Democratic Contenders Set To Square Off In First Debate Tuesday; Josephine Kulea Fights To Change Her Communities Pratices Toward Young Girls; How Were Suffragettes Depicted in Film? Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 11, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:10] LYNDA KINKADE, HOST: Sentenced in Iran, a court returns a verdict in the trial of Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian, but what
exactly that verdict is remains unknown. We'll have the latest on the case just ahead.
Also coming up, paying tribute: we're live in Ankara where thousands gathered to remember the victims of Turkey's worst attack in modern
history.
And the stage is set: Democratic presidential contenders will face off in just two days time. A report from Las Vegas later this hour.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is Connect the World.
KINKADE: Hello, and welcome to Connect the World live from CNN's headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
We begin this hour with the announcement from Iran's judiciary. There is now a verdict and sentence in the espionage case against Washington Post
reporter Jason Rezaian. But it hasn't said what they are.
The Iranian-American has been detained in Iran since July 2014. John Defterios is watching the developments now for us from Abu Dhabi. And
John, no verdict or sentence. So what exactly is Iran saying?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Well, as you say, Lynda, a verdict on charges of espionage handed down, but it remains very vague at
this stage, because the verdict and sentence are not yet known.
Rezaian has languished in jail despite and international outcry for his release. He remains the longest held U.S. citizen in the Iranian prison.
We of course have been tracking the response in Washington. Here's part of that response Rezaian's employer, The Washington Post put this brief but
very pointed response saying, "this vague and puzzling statement by the government of Iran only adds to the injustice that had surrounded Jason's
case since his arrest 15 months ago.
Executive editor Martin Baron saying that becuase this verdict leaves everyone guessing what will unfold next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEFTERIOS: Sentenced after nearly 450 days behind bars, on Sunday, Iran's judiciary confirmed a verdict has been reached in the trial of American
journalist Jason Rezaian. But in a process that's been shrouded in secrecy from the start, even the verdict is not clear.
The judiciary says Rezaian and his attorney have 20 days to appeal what has been handed down.
The U.S. State Department says they are monitoring the situation and continue to call for all charges against Jason to be dropped.
Rezaian began working for The Washington Post in Tehran in 2012. In the spring of 2014, he and his Iranian wife Yeganeh talked with CNN's Anthony
Bourdain about the challenges of reporting from Iran.
JASON REZAIAN, THE WASHINGTON POST: The difficult part is convincing people on the other side of the world that what we're telling you we're
seeing in front of our eyes is actually there. When you walk down the street and you see a different side of things. People are proud, the
culture is vibrant. People have a lot to say.
DEFTERIOS: Six weeks later, Rezaian and his wife were detained, their home ransacked. Yeganeh was released on bail, but he remained in prison.
Nearly five months later, he was charged with espionage. He was put on trial in May of this year facing a 20 year sentence if convicted.
The last court proceeding was held in August, and the Washington Post again appealed for his release. Iran's judiciary news service has said his
arrest has nothing to do with his being a journalist with one Iranian official saying last week that Rezaian was linked to, quote, a faction in
the U.S. Senate who planned to bring about regime change in Iran.
Recently, hopes for his release were raised when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani suggested that Rezaian and other Americans in Iranian jails could
be part of an exchange for Iranians convicted in the U.S. on charges related to nuclear technology.
HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them free, certainly the right
environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the
swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well.
DEFTERIOS: For now, those aspirations have been dashed as a secretive legal process plays out in Tehran.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DEFTERIOS: We have not heard yet from Rezaian or his attorney. It's worth reminding our viewers that he is one of four Americans in jail, Lynda,
which include Amir Hekmati (ph) a U.S. marine veteran, Robert Levinson (ph), a contractor, and Said Amani (ph) who is a Christian and converted
pastor -- Lynda
KINKADE: And John this, of course, all comes at a very sensitive time in Iran.
DEFTERIOS: Yeah, indeed Lynda. What we're witnessing is the push and pull, if you will, of internal politics in Iran. The hardliners on one
side, versus the moderates on the other. Those representing the revolutionary guard and those backing President Hassan Rouhani or even
hopes, as I noted in my report, of a prisoner exchange during the UN General Assembly.
Just last month, up to 19 Iranians held in U.S. jails on charges linked to Iran's nuclear program. And as you suggest, a word of the verdict comes as
two events unfolded in Tehran on Sunday, this is interesting, because it's the shade behind today's decision.
Lawmakers passed a bill through the Iranian parliament to proceed with the P5+1 negotiations for lifting the economic sanctions, which have knocked
out about 15 percent of the GDP in Iran. And at the same time we saw the Revolutionary Guard, the military, put forward military test on ballistic
missiles, an indication that the guard wanted to illustrate a show of force. But at the same time, Lynda, showing that they don't want to
proceed with the discussions on the P5+1 and the eventual lifting of the sanctions. They control a lot of the economy in Iran. And again we had
very high expectations, and now we're somewhat in the dark with this verdict today, but no sentence.
KINKADE: OK. John Defterios in Abu Dhabi. We will come back to you when we have more information out of Iran. Thank you.
Well, turning to Turkey now where people in Ankara are mourning following the deadliest terror attack in the country's modern history. Thousands
have gathered in the capital near the site of Saturday's double bombing. The blasts tore through a peace rally killing at least 95 people and
wounding more than 500 others. Two suicide bombers are believed to have carried out the attack, but no group has claimed responsibility.
Our Arwa Damon joins us now from Ankara, and Arwa no one has claimed responsibility, but it seems the anger is now being directed at political
leaers.
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It really is, and it shows you just how polarized the country is and what a sensitive time
This is we are right in front of the train station where that horrific attack took place. Already the windows have been replaced, but we just
want to show you this. This is one of the spots where one of those explosions took place, believed to have been carried out by a suicide
bomber, and now these red flowers lain here in commemoration. And in other parts of the capital and throughout the entire country, because many of
those who were at that demonstration were not just from Ankara.
They are really struggling as is the nation struggling to come to terms with the pain of all they have lost.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: "Why didn't you protect him? You should have protected my baby," the woman softly wails, finding little comfort. She, too distraught to
speak, the pain of a mother who will never see her son again. He was just 23 years old.
"He came for peace," his cousin says.
Twin bombings on Saturday ripped through a peace rally organized by labor unions and other wanting to see an end to the renewed fighting between the
government and the Kurdistan workers' party, the separatist PKK.
Instead, Turkey is now trying to come to terms with the single deadliest attack in its modern history.
But already the tragedy is playing out in the political arena. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government says it was an attack on the state. The
pro-Kurdish opposition party, the HDP, says the state is responsible and angry crowds demanded accountability.
The pre-existing tensions evident as opposition members of parliament tried to reach the scene of the attack to lay red carnations and were stopped by
riot police.
It's exactly what no one wanted to see happen here. All they wanted to do was lay flowers down at the scene of where the attack took place. Now,
they're being fired on and we're also being pushed back at this stage as well.
This is all unfolding just weeks before the country's November 1 parliamentary elections. A rerun of those held this summer, whose outcome
failed to result in seating a government.
The country now further polarized at a time when many say real unity is the only thing that will save it.
Dilek Gundar witnessed the carnage.
DILEK GUNDAR, BOMBING WITNESS: I realized one more time how important peace is, how important is -- in the world to be together, not be against
each other, just hold hands and just work for democracy.
DAMON: Many here still in shock, unable to speak of the depths of their pain.
For one, best expressed in a sorrowful song that drifts over the others waiting for the bodies of their loved ones, amid fears that it may not be
the last time the country sees suffering like this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:10:07] DAMON: Lynda, at this stage most of the bodies have been released back to the families. The scenes at the funerals for those who
have been buried, incredibly emotional. And also at this stage a lot of people looking for answers as to who was behind this and what especially is
going to be done to prevent it from happening again. And a lot of pressure, too, on the various different political leaders here who have
been trading some pretty barbed remarks, but a lot of expectations from them to try to at least put some of their animosities behind them so that
the country can begin to heal and move forward.
KINKADE: OK. Arwa Damon in Ankara, Turkey. Thank you very much for your reporting.
Well, still to come tonight, after weeks of battles in Kunduz, the Taliban strike another blow in Kabul. We'll hear from Afghanistan's defense
minister on the growing threat facing the country.
And spiraling violence in the West Bank between Palestinian Youth and Israeli soldiers, why some of the protesters say the way of peace is a dead
end.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN. And this is Connect the World with me Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Tensions between Israel and the Palestinians are escalating in several cities this weekend. Overnight, the Israeli air force targeted two Hamas
weapons facilities after a rocket was fired into southern Israel. The Gaza City fire department reports a pregnant woman and a 3-year-old child among
those killed when their house collapsed.
We're also seeing violence. Street clashes in the West Bank. CNN's Ben Wedeman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:15:04] BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDNET: Molotov cocktails fly in yet another clash, this time in Hebron in the southern West Bank.
For hours in the rock strewn streets of this ancient city, Palestinian youth battle it out with Israeli soldiers. The way of peace, of
negotiations, is a dead end, says this masked demonstrator.
I these days of spiraling violence, hotter heads prevail.
Scenes like this are becoming ever more commonplace in the West Bank. What it really reflects is not perhaps the beginning of a third intifada, but
the fact that in the absence of any sort of move towards peace this is a consequence.
Jerusalem saw two stabbing incidents Saturday. First, a Palestinian youth stabbed two Israelis and was promptly killed, and just a few hours later,
another Palestinian youth stabbed two Israeli policemen and was then shot dead by other police officers who responded to the commotion.
Security in the city has been ramped up to almost unprecedented levels, but it's difficult to stop an individual acting on his own bent on doing harm.
And the longer those attacks happen and clashes rack towns and cities across the West Bank, both sides will harden their positions.
Peace between Palestinians and Israelis is no longer being discussed. The best that can be achieved under these circumstances is just a bit of calm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Some more one this, CNN's Ben Wedeman joins me now from Jerusalem. And Ben, a little sign of calm there. And it appears the
conflict is only escalating.
WEDEMAN: Well, what we've seen today, of course, is this incident that there are so many question marks about it with this woman whose car
allegedly had a bomb, according to the Israeli police who stopped the car at a checkpoint outside of Jerusalem. Not altogether clear what happened
there, but after that it's been relatively calm in the sense that there haven't been any more stabbings in Jerusalem or anywhere else in Israel,
although there continue to be intense clashes in various parts of the West Bank.
So certainly no indication at this point that this current outbreak of violence is coming to an end -- Lynda.
KINKADE: And Ben, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has reached out to both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, but I think both men continue to
blame the other side for the rise of violence.
WEDEMAN: And they do that, but also keep in mind that both leaders are politically weak. Benjamin Netanyahu is in a coalition where he is
actually got quite a number of ministers and members of the coalition are much to the further right of him, in fact there was an opinion poll
published in Israel today that said that 73 percent of Israelis either disapprove or very -- are very disapprove of his handling of the current
outbreak of violence.
On the other hand, you have Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian leader who has on the one hand been calling for peaceful, nonviolent protests against
Israel's actions on the Temple Mount, or the Haram al-Sharif as it's know to Muslims. But he also has many people who feel that he's not taking a
hard enough line, he's criticized for being too old and out of ideas and too willing to cooperate with the Israelis.
So, on both sides, both leaders are weak and the problem is that the street, whether it's Jewish extremists or Palestinian extremists, may end
up dictating the direction of this current crisis.
KINKADE: OK. we'll leave it there for now. Ben Wedeman, live from Jerusalem, thank you very much.
And live from CNN Center, this is Connect the World. Coming up, as the world marks the international day of the girl, we meet a Kenyan woman who
has saved hundreds of girls from the harmful cultural traditions she grew up with.
Plus, the latest world news headlines are just ahead. And a resurgent Taliban. We'll talk to the Afghan defense minister next on the threat that
hasn't gone away 14 years after the U.S.-led invasion.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:22:50] KINKADE: You're watching Connect the World live from the CNN Center. Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban are claiming a responsibility for a suicide attack on foreign troops. It happened in central Kabul early on Sunday. At
least seven people were wounded when the bomb had targeted troops riding in a convoy.
This is the latest in a series of high profile attacks by the Taliban, including its temporary capture of Kunduz.
All in all it raises serious questions about the Afghan army and the future security of Afghanistan.
CNN's Nic Robertson sat down with the acting defense minister in Kabul.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: President Obama is considering drawing down U.S. troops. Do you still need U.S. troops here?
MASOOM STANEKZAI, AFGHAN DEFENSE MINISTER: When we look to the situation today, there is a lot of progress. We are taking over most of the burden
on our shoulder. Now, the Afghan soldiers are fighting everywhere against the international terrorists. But one thing is very clear, we are now
fighting on behalf of all the international community with this international terrorism, but this is the time that we will continue to need
some level of support that will enable us, particularly the enablers, that will help us to really address that fate.
No country alone can fight with the threat of global terrorism.
ROBERTSON: Specifically, what support are you looking for? What areas does the army have the greatest needs at the moment?
STANEKZAI: I think the greatest need, as you rightly mentioned, that we -- we need a time that we have to build our air capabilities.
ROBERTSON: How come the Afghan National Army were not able to hold Kunduz. How come the Taliban were able to take it so quickly?
STANEKZAI: This is an issue that we should still make an investigation. It was not the (inaudible) of the army, so it is not that the army was
defeated in Kunduz, it was because they were infiltrated inside the city like any other terrorist organization and then when the fighting inside
started, then it was the issue of the civilian casualties.
So you have to be careful about not to do something, which create that bigger problem.
ROBERTSON: Some of the people of Kunduz think that somehow the government let the Taliban come in. This is the rumor there.
STANEKZAI: This is part of the propaganda, this is part of the issues that a psychological war is ongoing there, how to create differences among the
people, make them suspicious of each other, make them suspicious of the government, make them suspicious of the government and also the
international partners.
ROBERTSON: What are the lessons that the Afghan army has learned this year?
STANEKZAI: The biggest lesson we will learn this year is in areas where we stick together with the people and the people were helpful and harmonized,
it was mostly very successful. In areas where there were differences among in competition (ph), among the politicians and they competed with each
other that was the worst.
ROBERTSON: So, what can you do about that next year?
STANEKZAI: What we to do, we already started in our political leadership we understand that the unity among them is a critical for the success of
the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Still to come, the latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, we look at Russia's escalating military role in Syria and what it
could mean both at home and abroad.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: This is Connect the World. And these are the top stories this hour.
Iran's judiciary says there is now a verdict and sentence in the espionage trial of Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, but it hasn't released any
further details. The U.S. says it's monitoring the situation. Rezaian's employer says the new development is vague, puzzling and only adds to the
injustice surrounding his case.
Thousands of people have gathered in Turkey's capital to pay their respects to those who died in Saturday's double bombing. The blasts went off during
a peace rally at Ankara's main train station. At least 95 people were killed and more than 500 were wounded.
Israel is mobilizing hundreds of additional police officers and soldiers amid escalating violence with Palestinians. Overnight, the Israeli
airforce targeted two Hamas weapons facilities after a rocket was fired into southern Israel.
The Gaza City fire department reports a pregnant woman and a small child were killed when their house collapsed.
Russia says its war planes targeted more than 60 ISIS positions in Syria in the past 24 hours. Russia and U.S. officials say they're now working
together to prevent any conflict with the coalition aircraft in the region.
Well, the stage is set for the first U.S. Democratic presidential debate. You're looking at live pictures out of Las Vegas where in just two days
five presidential hopefuls will face off in an event hosted by CNN. The podium order of the candidates has just been determined. Hillary Clinton
has topped recent polls so will stand center stage.
Well, five candidates are trying to hone in on the message they hope to send to voters on Tuesday night. Our Jim Acosta has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here we are inside the Wynn Hotel on the Las Vegas strip two days in counting before the Democratic debate on CNN,
the first Democratic Debate. And you can see the podiums behind me. This podium in the middle, that's where Hillary Clinton will stand, she's
obviously the Democratic front-runner right now. And on either side of her, will be her Democratic opponent. One of those opponents is obviously
the independent Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders. He has been the big story of this race so far. He's been filling auditoriums and arenas,
sometimes 10,000, 20,000 people. That's the liberal base of the Democratic Party showing up to support Bernie Sanders. He's really giving Hillary
Clinton a run for her money.
And some potential flash points for this debate on Tuesday night will be the Iraq War, Bernie Sanders has been saying in the last couple of days, he
opposed the Iraq war. Hillary Clinton voted in favor of the Iraq war.
Also the Trans-Pacific Partnership, that big trade deal President Obama is trying to get through congress. Bernie Sanders is opposed to that.
Hillary Clinton used to be in favor of it, now she's against it. So that's another flash point for this race.
And then the other candidates on this stage will be Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland, Lincoln Chafee, the former governor of Rhode
Island, and Jim Webb, the former Senator from Virginia.
But I have to tell you, there is enough space on this stage if Vice President Joe Biden wants to join in. He can come in because of the way
the rules are written for this debate, almost at the last minute if he wants to join this debate. He is in Delaware this weekend trying to decide
whether or not he wants to run for president. But clearly there's enough space on this stage if Vice President Biden wants to pull one of those last
minute audibles, he would really shakeup this debate. And at this point, we don't have that final word as to whether he will do that.
But certainly a lot of political drama building up for Tuesday night, the first Democratic debate right here on CNN.
Jim Acosta, CNN, Las Vegas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: A little bit more on the debate now. CNN's Anderson Cooper will moderate with Don Lemon posing questions submitted via Facebook. Our
coverage live from Las Vegas starts at 8:30 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday. If that's too late for you, you can watch the replay at noon or at 8:00
p.m. London time on Wednesday.
And it's only on CNN.
Thousands took to the streets of Tehran on Sunday to pay tribute to a senior military officer killed in Syria. Brigadier General Hossein
Hamedani was reportedly killed while advising Syrian government forces in Aleppo. He's being called a martyr at home, but his death is raising
questions about the extent of Iran's involvement in the Syrian war.
Like Iran, Russia is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in that conflict. Russia says its forces carried out more than 60 combat missions
over the past 24 hours hitting ISIS targets in Syria. But there are concerns the strikes, the targeting other groups opposed to President al-
Assad, mainly those backed by the U.S. and Arab Gulf states.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and is set to hold talks with Saudi
Arabia's defense minister.
For more on all of this, let's bring in Jill Dougherty from the International Center for Defense and Security who joins us now from Tallinn
in Estonia.
Jill, Russia is of course intensifying its airstrikes. They claim to have successfully hit many ISIS targets, but continue to target these rebel
groups opposed to the Assad regime.
JILL DOUGHERTY, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY: Well, essentially what they're doing is striking anyone who is in that area that
they figure needs to be struck in connection with the offense by the Syrian forces.
So, the Russian air force comes in. They do the airstrikes. And then the Syrian ground troops come in and move forward. And apparently from the
latest reports they are making progress.
It has been very important for them, that is the Syrian troops, to have that air cover and attacks by the Russian forces.
But the United States continues to say -- and this has been, you know, now for days, the U.S. was saying there are not just striking ISIS, they're
actually striking more often offensive forces, the opposition forces, who are opposing the president Assad. The Russians continue to say that
they're hitting ISIS and so it's back and forth.
But, you know, right now the most important thing is that with two countries, actually one coalition, which is the United States and its
coalition, and then the Russians, it is very important for both sides to be talking and that is what the two militaries have been doing, technical
talks about making sure that they don't actually have a collision over Syria.
KINKADE: That of course the main focus, even though their view on strategy completely polar opposites.
DOUGHERTY: Right.
Well, right now, getting back to those military talks, the United States does not want to extend the conversation into other areas. So, in the
statement that the Pentagon made, they were very precise in saying it was technical, a very focused talks on issues like, for example, what language
pilots will talk to each other in. What are the frequencies, et cetera so that there won't be any clash -- or collisions over Syria.
But, the Russians have wanted to extend the conversation. The U.S. is not doing it.
They will be talking again very soon.
So, in a sense that's good, but these are not broader discussions about any political settlement or anything like that, it's really safety in the
skies, that's it.
KINKADE: That is a crucial point.
And of course the Russian President Vladimir Putin has been meeting with Arab Gulf leaders. W hat do you think Mr. Putin will be saying to them?
DOUGHERTY: Well, of course, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, are supporting the opposition. They do not want Assad to remain in power. So, President
Putin, of course, is on the other side of that equation. And we haven't -- don't have a readout from that, but we'd have to think that he is pushing
very hard for the Saudis, for the Qataris, not to continue to support and to somehow, you know, not continue the support for the opposition. That --
who knows how far that will go, because they are making it very clear, the Saudis and the Qataris, that they want Assad to go.
You know, ultimately, Lynda, the question will be how long Assad hangs in there, how long he can. And almost more importantly, what comes after
that? There is, of course, at this point a discussion about perhaps he could continue in power at least until there is a plan B, someone else,
some group or whatever, to take over.
But I think both sides, the United States and Russia do agree that you can't simply let everything fall apart should Assad go. There has to be
some type of government structure, the military has to continue. There area lot of lessons that they learned from Iraq when they disbanded the
military. And that created enormous chaos and great danger.
So, these are some of the discussion, what comes next, what comes after Assad? Is there is an after Assad at this point depending upon on long
that could take.
KINKADE: That's a very, very good point.
Jill Doughtery, as always, thank you very much for your analysis.
KINKADE: Well, live from the CNN Center, this is Connect the World. Coming up, as the world marks the International Day of the girl, you'll
meet a Kenyan woman who has saved hundreds of girls from the traumatizing traditions that she grew up with.
Also ahead, a new film with a modern take on women's suffrage, but how was the movement portrayed at the time? What silence films reveal.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:42:36] KINKADE: Hello, you're watching CNN. And this is Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
It's an important day in the fight for gender equality. The UN is focusing on the power of the adolescent girl and the challenges girls face around
the world, a day is meant to reflect on past achievements and to look ahead to the goals for the future.
In 2011, the United Nations adopted a day for girls as a way for the global community to try to advance gender equality around the world.
In Kenya, one woman is doing just that. Josephine Kulea is an activist who has fought tirelessly against early marriage and other cultural traditions
facing young girls in her country. CNN's Nima Elbagir has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is Mama Kulea. These nine girls and hundreds of others call her mother.
Today, Josephine Kulea is visiting this group at a primary school in Kenya's Samburu (ph) region.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why are you crying? (inaudible)
ELBAGIR: Eunice (ph) is 13-years-old.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I wanted to come to school, but that man wanted me to be a third wife. Wanted me to be a third wife, but I
told him I will not be a wife.
ELBAGIR: Kulea is also a Samburu (ph) says she has rescued over 1,000 girls just like Eunice from early marriage. Female genital mutilation and
beating. The practice of allocating girls to their male relatives for sex.
She's fighting the very cultural traditions she grew up with.
JOSEPHINE KULEA, FOUNDER, SAMBURU GIRLS FOUNDATION: When I came to realize we actually, we are the only ones (inaudible) female genital mutilation,
the other communities are not doing it, then until you go to school and actually went through school to her school and you went to nursing school
and came to realize it's really harmful. So, that's when I realized that, OK, I think the things my community are not doing right and I think I need
to make a difference, and that's how I started a rescue.
ELBAGIR: Kulea's organization, the Samburu Girls Foundation, has placed nine girls in this school. There are over 200 girls in schools throughout
Kenya, rescued then taken to safety.
Despite her efforts, there are many more desperate for her help.
Kulea is called away to meet this group of girls and their mothers who secretly wanted to save their daughters.
All these girls have been beaded, the youngest one here is only seven, already promised to a man.
KULEA: My community, the beading basically means we are allowed to pick a girlfriend among the girls who are not married. Sometimes as young as
eight, and they have to buy beads for them. And they have to put them around heir neck. That's just for sex.
All girls in the village are actually (inaudible). So, like this one, she's like 10 years? No, less, or nine. Nine years. And they want to
marry her off.
Yeah, she wants to go to school, but they want to marry her off. So that's why they were asking if she could go to school now.
ELBAGIR: Even though female genital mutilation and early marriage are illegal in Kenya, cultural traditions are hard to break.
Girls as young as seven are mutilated before they're married off against their will often to men much older than them.
ANGELA, RESCUED GIRL (through translator): When I was 9 years old, my parents wanted me circumcised. I ran away to the forest. I heard about
one lady, Mama Kulea, who rescued me and she took me to school.
ELBAGIR: Only 5 percent of the Samburu community can read and write.
ELIJAH LEIRIRO, VILLAGE ELDER: This is our culture. And it was practiced a long time ago. To change it, needs time.
ELBAGIR: Kulea is determined to change these cultural practices.
KULEA: There's hope. I know when we take (inaudible) to school in future, there will be a difference.
ELBAGIR: For Kulea, it's not about losing Samburu traditions, it's about the future of her tribe. She believes women can play a vital role if given
the chance.
Nima Elbagir, CNN, Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, live from the CNN Center, this is Connect the World. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:37] KINKADE: You're watching CNN. And this is Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Emirates Air has a new celebrity friend, of sorts. It's Jennifer Aniston who stars in the airlines latest commercial promoting its onboard showers
and in flight bar. But as Jeanne Moos found out, such luxury comes at a sky high price.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not easy to find a place to take a shower eight miles up, even when you're Jennifer Aniston.
JENNIFER ANISTON, ACTRESS: I'm looking for a shower.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's no showers here, ma'am.
ANISTON: I'm going to look pretty silly dressed like this going to the bar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's no bar here, but we do have hot towels and a bag of peanuts.
MOOS: And with this dig at domestic airlines, America's sweetheart begins her gig advertising Emirates Airlines.
ANISTON: There's no shower?
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: Next thing you know, Jen wakes up in her Emirates flap bed. It was such a nightmare. I was on a plane and it was nothing like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sorry to hear that.
MOOS: Emirate is the only airline to offer showers in first class.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If you go inside, it's actually pretty spacious. You get five total minutes.
MOOS: Showering at cruising altitude is so heady, it's hard to resist a little show and tell.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was pretty fantastic.
MOOS: The only bad news about the in-flight shower is that you'll take a bath when it comes to paying the ticket price. Round trip first class
between New York and Dubai, just over $30,000. But you do get your own little suite to sleep in.
Gulf based airlines are using stars like Nicole Kidman to expands into the U.S. market while big three American airlines pushed back, saying their
rivals have an unfair advantage because they are subsidized by their governments.
ANISTON: Is there someone that we can talk to about flying this around a little longer?
MOOS: You never know, the real Jen suffers from fear of flying.
ANISTON: Still, flying to me, it was just terrifying. I struggle with it.
MOOS: But it's less of a struggle when you're in the shower, a shower at 40,000 feet makes you feel less psycho. Unless you hit turbulence -- then,
fasten your shower cap.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, you can always dream about traveling like that.
And if you want to follow the stories our team is working on throughout the day, you can go to our website, you can go to our Facebook page, at
Facebook.com/CNNConnect. And you can get in touch on Twitter. You can tweet me @LyndaKinkade.
Now for our Parting Shots. A new film has put a revolutionary movement back in the spotlight. Last week we brought you the London premiere of the
film Suffragette, the story of British women who fought for their right to vote.
And now we've combed the vaults of the British Film Institute to give you a look at how the movement was portrayed at the time.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VRYONY DIXON, BFI ARCHIVE SILENT FILM CURATOR: We have to remember that 20 million people were going to the cinema a week by the time the First World
War breaks out. There only eight million people can vote.
I think the original footage of things like the Emily Davidson incidents at the 1913 derby where she runs in front of a horse still controversial to
this day. We don't know why she did it, or whether she intended to kind of martyr herself, or whether this was just another opportunity to get in
front of the cameras and make a protest.
They have a real impact, those incidents on film. And I think it changed the movement, the Suffragette movement, because this was a really serious
incident. Everybody had seen it.
Normally, you'd be -- you know, have a picture in an illustrated paper or something, but to actually see it really brings you up short.
And to see the scale of the funeral, masses and masses of people, you know, in London and then up in the north in Malpeth (ph) where she's buried.
This is staggering the scale of it.
But this filming milling the militants is interesting. So you get one of these type, a great banner, you know, votes for women. And she's got this
hen-pecked husband. She's left the children at home with him. And he's looking pretty miserable. And she's gone off to fight the good fight.
She's big, battle ax, middle age, usually with half a bird on her head, you know. So she's that figure (inaudible). You never see young key
suffragettes in this context.
And then he goes to sleep and dreams what he's going to do to get his revenge. And they make these suffragettes do terrible things like wear
trousers in public. You know, the shame, the shame.
It's very funny. But in the end, ironically, she wins.
The audience for film was largely women and children. So you've got the filmmakers appealing to that audience as well. So you'll see lots of
women, lots of women very adventurous characters. So you get these fantastic serials where girls are detectives and you know they go out and
work and they behave badly, like the Chilly Girls (ph) do. They're quite free and independent spirited.
Cinema and the sort of ramping up of the suffragette movement happened exactly at the same time. So from the 1890s up to the end of the First
World War. And it's during this period actually ironically that more women are involved in the making of film than they are subsequently. It's when
film becomes very commercialized that men really take over.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, that does it for this edition of Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thanks for watching.
END
