Afghan leader accused of bid to 'legalise rape'

[kpete]

Source: The Independent UK

Afghan leader accused of bid to 'legalise rape'

UN and women MPs say Karzai bowed to Islamic fundamentalists before poll

By Jerome Starkey in Kabul

Tuesday, 31 March 2009


Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which "legalises" 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."

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghan-leader-accused-of-bid-to-legalise-rape-1658049.html

[imdjh]

1. For some reason I thought that the occupation of Afghanistan would include installing a constitution

I really did think that part of our goal was to modernize.

[biopowertoday]

10. Since 2004 the "Islamic Republic of Afghanistan." has had a constitution but

not like ours in many respects---Lots was written about it from the women's perspective at the time and this was before the Taliban resured.

[Tempest]

2. Obama is looking to replace the mayor of Kabal

Here's another reason to do so and quickly.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

4. "Kabul", but I have to wonder is he even runs that. nt

[Tempest]

8. My spelling was intentional based on how the city is run

It's been compared to Baghdad during Saddam's rule because of the rampant corruption.

And yes, his influence in the city is diminishing rapidly. He never had influence anywhere else in the country.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

9. Sorry that went right over my head. It makes perfect sense. I did use to refer to

Hussein as the mayour of Baghdad back in the day too.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

3. This if fucking horrible. nt

[Name removed]

6. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Ahh the munifcent and beautiful fruit of islam and the sharia

What a wonderful world it would be if this was true everywhere

EXTREME :sarcasm:

[EFerrari]

11. This is not Islamophobe Underground. You attribute to Islam

what should be attributed to fundamentalists. We have plenty of those right here.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

12. There is an order of magnitude in differences between xtian fundies and islam fundies on the impact

on others. Xtians went through the reformation and later the enlightenment. While some sects still hold to beliefs many of us could never share, its a damn site better than islam which is still back in the 13th century. I have never heard of Baptists stoning anyone for immodesty or being gay. Also the OP is purely about islam and the sharia

[EFerrari]

14. The OP is about Islamic fundamentalists and does not, as you do, slam Islam.

A friend of mine who also happens to be a poster to this board described to me the camps we have here where gay teen agers are sent by Baptists, iirc. And people are killed here for being gay as well. But I guess you may have a point. Stoning is worse than spousal abuse, rape and pedophilia

[dkofos]

7. Fucking barbarians.

Tell me again why we have troops there.

[EFerrari]

15. I don't get it. How different is that than the Democrats caving into

the "pro life" fascists here?

[bobburgster]

13. Holy Crap!

I hope the hell Obama et el jump all over this. Barbaric!