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ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: HOT ZONE DOCUMENTARY

Hot Zone Documentary, Ch. 11: Child Bride

'A World of Conflict,' the documentary about the Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone project, is being shown here in its entirety, one chapter each week.

By the Hot Zone Team, Wed Jan 16, 12:31 PM ET

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Chapter 11: Child Bride
In Afghanistan, Kevin Sites met a 12-year-old girl named Gulsoma, whose incredible story of resilience resonated with millions of people worldwide. She was only six years old when she was sold to a neighbor family in Kandahar as a child bride.

For years she was treated no better than an animal and beaten severely. Her body was covered in scars — except for her face, left untouched as a way of hiding her mistreatment. Gulsoma finally escaped after a beating that nearly killed her. She found sanctuary in an orphanage and her tormentors were brought to justice.

Despite all she's been through, she bears no bitterness or hatred, teaching us that the world may indeed be full of pain and suffering, but also amazing human beings like her, who triumph over it every day. 

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"A World of Conflict" is the documentary about the "Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone" project, in which veteran war correspondent Kevin Sites reported from every major global conflict in one year, in an effort to understand the costs of a world perpetually at war.

We are highlighting one chapter of the documentary each week in chronological order, allowing you to see the film in its entirety — exclusively online.

The documentary contains searing, never-before-seen images of combat and its lingering impact on civil society, beginning with the anarchy of Somalia in September 2005 and culminating with the explosive war between Israel and Hezbollah in summer 2006.

The documentary is included with Sites' new book, "In the Hot Zone: One Man. One Year. Twenty Wars." (The Harper Perennial paperback original is available now at Amazon.com and at book stores.)

Next: Hot Zone Doc., Ch. 12: Nepal and Kashmir
Previous: Hot Zone Documentary, Ch. 10: Afghanistan
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Comments

Join the discussion. Here you'll see the comments in the order they were posted.

1
to kevin. people in th U.S need to see and hear more about whats going on in other parts of the world. people in the U.S and all around the world need to see and hear the real truth behind this GREAT AGENDA, we the human race are being victams too. in other words, the begining of the end is near.Hitler had a vision, and that vision is on its way if we the human race dont unite as one race, THE HUMAN RACE !
Posted by jamesgcaruso on Fri, Jan 18, 2008 10:28 AM ET
2
How does one ever find sufficient thanks for what Kevin does for us. Thank you for risking your life. for the purpose of opening the world and its current state.
Posted by eccassano on Sun, Jan 20, 2008 5:16 AM ET
3
We still take it for granted that women and girls are treated like chattels in some societies, even though slavery was abolished a long time ago. Martin Luther King's dream of equality for all still hasn't been fulfilled...
Posted by tetabiakti on Mon, Jan 21, 2008 9:10 PM ET
4
Kevin, you used to appear on Yahoo! as soon as I clicked on it. What happened? I have a sense that we are so into our own little corner of the world, and forget to check on those that are suffering. They suffer because of us, because we either don't care or we inflict the hardship upon them with our consumerism and imperialism. As a high school teacher, a soldier in the reserves, and a mother, I look for your reports to keep me reminded of what I have seen and suffered with the people of other countries. Through your vivid testimonies I get to take out what I need to pass on to my students and children. They need to know because it will catch up with us very soon. We cannot leave this mess for our children to clean up.
Posted by reyeseng on Tue, Jan 22, 2008 11:35 PM ET
5
This story and all your others are amazing. I can't believe the American Empire lets this stuff go on. It truly sadens me to see such suffering. We as Americans need to stand up against our Neo-con government and start to change things. I love my country for what it was not what it is turning into. I'm glad you uncovered these stories and brought them to light more people need to see what's going on in our world. We are too self-absorbed. Thank you Kevin.
Posted by zorgchris on Thu, Jan 24, 2008 10:54 AM ET
6
I am a 100 years old lady living in U.S.A . When I was a young teeenager I heard stories similar like this one all the time, and time passed nobody did nothing to stop these cruelty and inhuman situation for young little girls worlwide. We are in the year 2008 and still the rape persists! In the homes, street and with predators who use the internet to find "young little girls" to kidnap from their homes for to rape and killed them. Thank you, with love and thinking in the young little girl from the world! Also . I observed as time pass.... the women worldwide must be educated in all whe ways of life. starting with a good government, good home and good society. the women of the world have the key for to stop all these atrocities that we hear everyday in television, radio, news and internet.
Posted by olimpiahbedell on Sat, Jan 26, 2008 8:30 AM ET
7
Dear Kevin,.. thanks for highlighting such stories,.. so America and the world will start working together to stop all the atrocities. I come from a war ridden country ( Sierra Leone ) though I was lucky not to be in the country when the war was going on I did lose my 26-yr-old brother who was a soldier and a lot of other friends. There are families which do not exist anymore cos they were killed. There are little girls growing up with limbs cos they were cut. It breaks my heart to see such things going what is the world turning to??
Posted by ebony7166 on Sun, Jan 27, 2008 4:11 AM ET
8
EDUCATORS! Why is THIS & human relations in general not the core of school curricula? We can get along without everyone knowing algebra & history (usually inaccurate anyway) & Shakespeare, but we can't get along without getting along. WAKE UP!!! Thank you, Kevin, for this wake-up call, only I fear it is not being heard--10 days for these comments & this is only the 8th.
Posted by vstoskus on Mon, Jan 28, 2008 10:41 AM ET
9
Regarding the earlier comment, "They suffer because of us, because we either don't care or we inflict the hardship upon them with our consumerism and imperialism," this story is heart-rending and I applaud Kevin for bringing it to the American public, but how can anyone say this girl is suffering because of America? It's not because we don't care or that we as individuals or as a nation inflict this kind of hardship on others. These girls suffer because their parents and communities do not have the advantage of a Christian worldview. Their priorities are all screwed up. I don't understand every decision, but President Bush's vision of self-government and individual worth is to be applauded, not criticized. If left-leaning liberals feel guilty, they should voluntarily "sell all they have and give to the poor," beginning with the Alec Baldwins and Paris Hiltons of the world.
Posted by judymcdonald on Mon, Jan 28, 2008 12:22 PM ET
10
i was touched by ur story about a 12 yr old named Golzoma a child bride at 6 and a victim of child abuse and slavery..despite what she have been through she bears no bitterness and hatred in her heart... quite an amazing child.. posted by jellyfish559
Posted by jellyfish559 on Mon, Jan 28, 2008 6:13 PM ET

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in memoriam

The Kevin Sites in the Hot Zone team dedicates this site to Marla Ruzicka, a fearless voice of compassion, who was killed in Iraq on April 16, 2005, while trying to lessen the suffering of others. For more information, see Civic Worldwide.