And there's not a peep out of anybody about it... and where's First Woman Michelle at on the subject? Eating pie in the White House with Oprah and talking about her abs.
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 travelling, unless they are ill. The law also gives men preferential inheritance rights, easier access to divorce, and priority in court.
Keeping them bagged, barefoot and pregnant->
From the Independent.
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 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 travelling, unless they are ill. The law also gives men preferential inheritance rights, easier access to divorce, and priority in court.
You'll be happy to know that "a British Embassy spokesman said diplomats had raised concerns at a senior level." Well, isn't that big of them.
People can say all they want about Laura Bush, but I "betcha" she'd out front condemning this.
Posted by: janice | March 31, 2009 at 08:30 AM
I was thinking exactly the same thing Miss J. She did more for oppressed Muslim women during her stint in the WH than anybody I know.
And where are all the Hollywood Feministas? Working on their arms so they can be like Michelle, I guess.
Posted by: Dinah Lord | March 31, 2009 at 08:52 AM