Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 AFGHAN PRESIDENT SIGNS LAW "LEGALIZING RAPE" By Jerome Starkey, Independent UK Karzai rushed the new Shia Family Law through parliament in a shameless bid to win votes in advance of national elections. http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/134219/afghan_president_signs_law_%22legalizing_rape%22/ Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which "legalizes" rape, women's groups and the United Nations warn. Critics claim the president helped rush the bill through parliament in a bid to appease Islamic fundamentalists ahead of elections in August. In a massive blow for women's rights, the new Shia Family Law negates the need for sexual consent between married couples, tacitly approves child marriage and restricts a woman's right to leave the home, according to UN papers seen by The Independent. "It is one of the worst bills passed by the parliament this century," fumed Shinkai Karokhail, a woman MP who campaigned against the legislation. "It is totally against women's rights. This law makes women more vulnerable." The law regulates personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance and sexual relations among Afghanistan's minority Shia community. "It's about votes," Ms. Karokhail added. "Karzai is in a hurry to appease the Shia because the elections are on the way." The provisions are reminiscent of the hardline Taliban regime, which banned women from leaving their homes without a male relative. But in a sign of Afghanistan's faltering steps towards gender equality, politicians who opposed it have been threatened. "There are moderate views among the Shia, but unfortunately our MPs, the people who draft the laws, rely on extremists," Ms Karokhail said. The bill lay dormant for more than a year, but in February it was rushed through parliament as President Karzai sought allies in a constitutional row over the upcoming election. Senator Humeira Namati claimed it wasn't even read out in the Upper House, let alone debated, before it was passed to the Supreme Court. "They accused me of being an unbeliever," she said. Details of the law emerged after Mr. Karzai was endorsed by Afghanistan's Supreme Court to stay in power until elections scheduled in August. Some MPs claimed President Karzai was under pressure from Iran, which maintains a close relationship with Afghanistan's Shias. The most controversial parts of the law deal explicitly with sexual relations. Article 132 requires women to obey their husband's sexual demands and stipulates that a man can expect to have sex with his wife at least "once every four nights" when traveling, unless they are ill. The law also gives men preferential inheritance rights, easier access to divorce, and priority in court. A report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women, Unifem, warned: "Article 132 legalizes the rape of a wife by her husband". Most of Afghanistan's Shias are ethnic Hazaras, descended from Genghis Khan's Mongol army which swept through the entire region around 700 years ago. They are Afghanistan's third largest ethnic group, and potential kingmakers, because their leaders will likely back a mainstream candidate. Even the law's sponsors admit Mr. Karzai rushed it through to win their votes. Ustad Mohammad Akbari, a prominent Shia political leader, said: "It's electioneering. Most of the Hazara people are unhappy with Mr. Karzai." A British Embassy spokesman said diplomats had raised concerns "at a senior level". Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Serena 12 Report post Posted April 3, 2009 I heard about that yesterday, and as sad as it is something like that isn't totally unexpected from that region... [sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]I are me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crazy Gravy 100 Report post Posted April 6, 2009 Doing my own research. Thanks Lady again for putting it all in one place. Women's rights is one of my biggest issues. I am in constant disbelif, though I shouldnt be (Idiot Nation) At how women and girls are still treated in this day and age. Like extremists throwing acid in the face of young girls just going to school. I have to be selective as I start my activism. This is a priority, Id could care less how america fucks itself up, outside of ppl who think, the rest deserve it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ladywriter 7,783 Report post Posted April 11, 2009 Afghan 'Rape Law' Will NOT Go Into Effect: Ambassador Look at the flowers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flying_Monkey 500 Report post Posted August 4, 2009 That area of the world is messed up and isn't changing anytime soon... LOL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
