As bad as the Taliban? Afghan President backs law which 'legalises **** within marriage'
Last updated at 4:48 PM on 31st March 2009
It is believed that President Hamid Karzai backed the law to appease fundamentalists ahead of the August elections
Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai has been accused of trying to win election votes by backing a law which the UN says legalises **** within marriage.
The final document has not been published but it is believed to state that wives cannot refuse to have *** with their husbands.
The Independent reports it also forbids wives from stepping outside their homes without their husbands’ permission.
It is thought to have been rushed through parliament in a bid to appease Islamic fundamentalists ahead of the August elections.
According to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem), the law also grants custody of children to fathers and grandfathers only and approves child marriage.
Shinkai Karokhail, a female member of the Afghan parliament who campaigned against the legislation said: ‘It is one of the worst bills passed by the parliament this century.
‘It is totally against women’s rights. This law makes women more vulnerable.
‘It’s about votes. Karzai is in a hurry to appease the Shia because the elections are on the way.’
Article 132 of the law states that women must obey their husband’s sexual demands and that a man can expect to have *** with his wife at least ‘once every four nights’ when traveling, unless they are ill.
According to Unifem: ‘Article 132 legalises the **** of a wife by her husband.’
Ustad Mohammad Akbari, an MP and the leader of the Hazara party claimed the law actually protected women’s rights.
He said: ‘Men and women have equal rights under Islam but there are differences in the way men and women are created.
‘Men are stronger and women are a little bit weaker, even in the West you do not see women working as firefighters.’
Karzai's spokesman declined to comment on the new law.
As bad as the Taliban? Afghan President backs law which .........
(D.S.G)
Linear Mode
