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'Worse than the Taliban' - new law rolls back Afghan women rights

by Tamiya | April 2, 2009 at 02:20 am

886 views | 66 Recommendations | 11 comments

Hamid Karzai is out to win votes and he is willing to do it at the cost of women rights in Afghanistan. The current Afghan president is backing up a law, which the UN condemns (1) legalises rape within marriage, and (2) bans wives from stepping outside their homes without their husbands' permission.

The Afghan president signed the law earlier this month despite the criticism of human rights activists and parliament members.

The final document has not been published, but the law is believed to contain articles that rule women cannot leave the house without their husbands' permission, that they can only seek work, education or visit the doctor with their husbands' permission, and that they cannot refuse their husband sex.

The Afghan president is ready to please clerics by lowering down himself to Taliban like laws in place for Afghanistan. Would the women will be able to come and vote without their husband permission ? If the Afghanistan democracy allows that, then president Karzai might be in for a little surprise in August.

After seven years leading Afghanistan, Karzai is increasingly unpopular at home and abroad and the presidential election in August is expected to be extremely closely fought. A western diplomat said the law represented a "big tick in the box" for the powerful council of Shia clerics.

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Amaad

at 03:39 on April 2nd, 2009

this is bad news.. Turkey and Morocco are also Muslim countries like Afghanistan but the similarity stops there. the value for life and women welfare is not as good as many westren countries but what the women of third word countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan and India have to suffer everyday is shocking.

anarkissed

at 06:22 on April 2nd, 2009

Any religion which relegates half of humanity to the stables must be questioned. If the women want to wear burquas and work at home I fully support them, but they must have the legal and social permission and ability to seek their own destinies, stand up for their safety and health, and speak up for their needs. We cannot continue to allow one segment of humanity or society to cruelly oppress another!

Amaad

at 11:03 on April 2nd, 2009

well said mate.. bravo

tikun

at 06:51 on April 2nd, 2009

This is a truly tragic event.

Tamiya

at 11:57 on April 2nd, 2009

Denying education to little girls in the name of Allah and Koran is probably the worst exploitation of Islam.

Islam's , or any other religion's, teachings that violates basic human rights, could not have been the actual teaching or intention to begin with. Many clerics and religious groups have manipulated original teachings to fit to their own motives and agendas.

Women rights means nothing to Taliban.

It is sad to see Afghanistan and Pakistan are in the iron grip of this group. Lack of government leadership in dealing with Taliban, Pakistan is also running the high risk of being infested with Taliban.

Western countries do have an obligation to give voice to the silenced women in Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is not just the obligation, but it also a protection measure that is required to keep Taliban at the least contained.

Many rights, and many facilities we take it for granted are luxuries or even dreams for these women.

Tamiya

at 13:02 on April 2nd, 2009

CBC.ca coverage into Taliban world.

Luke66Slomka (not verified)

at 18:14 on April 2nd, 2009

what a shame all the time effort and money to try and make things better for the people in afghanistan has brought them to this point

Firoze Shakir (not verified)

at 20:35 on April 2nd, 2009

Women in Islam have been treated shabbily right from the time of Caliph Umar..who did not even spare the rights of Bibi Fatima the erstwhile daughter of the Holy Prophet and later the genocide at Karbala where the ladies of Imam Hussains family werremade to undergo thewirst atrocities..I am a moderate Muslim , and dont take this as Shiaspeak but scan history there are many instances of womens rights trampled by macho Mullah powered male dominated Muslim society and women bashing including Saudi Arabia..

Amaad

at 00:44 on April 3rd, 2009

dear friend,

this is a sensitive topic you just touched you are describing the events that are being denied by Wahabi faith and are affecting the Sunnis as well.

this is a whole new discussion. I would request you to register so that we can put more light to this subject.

am3332 (not verified)

at 02:56 on April 3rd, 2009

This subject is a very sensitve one.. I would like to say that women have always been the underdog .. a feminist issue ... male domination. There are many things wrong with this world and whilst I am not religious , I respect other peoples right to believe in what they choose .. but the issue should be about respect for a fellow human being and without being to sexist ..Men should not be allowed to control world affairs .. If left to women they would be no war ..no poverty . Trillions spent on war ... millions dying from abuse and starvation at the hands of goverments and big buisness`s. Relgion is used to control the mass and keep them chained.... It may have at one time held a universal message of peace and understanding but has been used and abused by many for many reasons. Women bring peace love and compassion to world because it is in the make up... I am not saying that Men are not capable of the same ... I am saying is if You can stand up and make a difference to how we treat our fellow human beings then you should . Stand up for whats fair and just and whats happing to the women in Afganistan is out and and out wrong..