"The legislation, which governs many aspects of family life for Afghanistan's Shiites, has been sparking controversy since Karzai signed an earlier version in March. Critics said the original legislation essentially legalized marital rape and Karzai quickly suspended enforcement after governments around the world condemned it as oppressive and a return to Taliban-era repression of women."
"But the revised version, made public in July, riled activists all over again because many restrictive articles remained, including one that appears to give a husband the right to starve his wife if she refuses to have sex with him."
"Female parliamentarians said they thought they would get the chance to fight for revisions, only to discover in recent days that Karzai had taken advantage of a legislative recess to approve the law by decree. Parliament has the right to examine and change the law when they reconvene, but the law stays in effect in the meantime. "
"The activists suspect Karzai took the step to appease conservative Shiite clergy ahead of Thursday's presidential election. Nearly 20 percent of Afghans are Shiites and could become an influential voting block as Karzai contests for a new five-year term. "
"I think the chances of this being discussed in parliament in the next year or so are low and the chances of improvements being made are lower. So as far this law, I think we're stuck with it," said Rachel Reid, an Afghanistan researcher with Human Rights Watch. "
It continually astonishes
how low some are sometimes willing to sink to be re-elected !
And for what ?
Hasn't Afghanistan stayed in the dark ages long enough ? Why is it that a country that was at the cross roads of History seems stuck in the past, unable to advance into the modern age ??? They say a picture is worth a thousand words:
It is a true testament to womanhood that some men feel impelled to gain the backing of the law in order to feel secure in their own homes, true proof that women are only physically the weaker sex, even by the perception of their own spouses.
Why this misbegotten need to make slaves of the companions that even God named helpers? Maybe the Taliban and some in Afghanistan ought to consider that it is precisely women's abilities and contributions that would bring the country the final steps out of darkness, poverty, and petty internal warring, and into prosperity and calm.
Isabel of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon won back Spain. Then by her own visionary insight and against all objections, she funded Columbus to discover a new continent whose riches would overflow Spain's coffers for a generation. Elizabeth I of England defeated the greatest armada of her time and led the country to it's golden age. Queen Victoria reigned over the expansion of a kingdom on whom the sun never set. Indira Gandhi presided over the transformation of "India's chronic food shortages into surplus production of wheat, rice, cotton and milk" beating back malnutrition. (wikipedia.com) President Corazon Aquino of the Phillipines toppled a dictator through PEACEFULL steet protests, restored democratic institutions, oversaw the writing of a "dictator proof consitution," and then left office democratically. (encarta.msn.com) Doesn't Afghanistan deserve as much?
"Women in the Islamic World have produced more than five head of states: Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, Mame Madior Boye of Senega, Tansu Ciller of Turkey, Kaqusha Jashari of Kosovo, and Megawati Sukarnoputri of Indonesia." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Islam :
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the presidential sister who founded the Special Olympics, was celebrated Friday at a funeral Mass as a fearless warrior for the voiceless who changed the world for millions and an unconventional woman who smoked Cuban cigars and played tackle football. "She was scary smart and not afraid to show it," Maria Shriver said of her mother, who died Tuesday at age 88. "If she were here today ... she would pound this podium ... and ask each of you what you have done today to better the world."
Standing with her four brothers during her eulogy, Maria Shriver said ... a role model who never conformed to what society might have wanted. "Our mother never rested, she never stopped. She was momentum on wheels." (By Russell Contreras, Associated Press Writer Russell Contreras, Associated Press Writer – Fri Aug 14, 2:31 pm ET - HYANNIS, Mass.)[1]
"Queen Rania of Jordan has pushed for more rights for women and children in the region and in the world as a whole. She set up the Madrasati initiative aimed at renovating Jordan's most dilapidated public schools and installing new computers ... and has launched a "war on child abuse" She is also an outspoken critic of honor killings. " another Fearless Warrior for the Voiceless http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Rania_of_Jordan :
