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Afghanistan women protest controversial law restricting women's rights

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] A group of approximately 300 Afghan women protesting a law that critics say severely curtails womens' rights were confronted by a crowd of approximately 1,000 counter-protesters Wednesday, some of whom threw stones and gravel at the women. The protest took place outside a mosque run by Shi'ite cleric Mohammad Asif Mohseni who spoke out in support of the Shi'ite Personal Status Law over the weekend. Police stood between the two groups to prevent further violence against the women. Protesters say that the new law, which reportedly allows husbands to demand sex from their wives at any time except in a few narrowly defined circumstances and prevents women from leaving their home unaccompanied without their husband's permission, is reminiscent of laws under the Taliban and violates Afghanistan's constitution. The larger group of counter-protesters shouted down the protesters, claiming that the protesters and international critics of the law are attempting to interfere with Afghan democracy. Human Rights Watch (HRW) supported the protest and urged Afghanistan's government to heed the protesters' call to the reverse the law. The Taliban claimed responsibility Sunday for killing Afghan politician and women's rights advocate Sitara Achakzai outside her home. Earlier this month, Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced the law would not be enforced until the Ministry of Justice had reviewed the bill as Karzai ordered two days before. Karzai faced international criticism after signing the still unpublished bill last month. The law affects only Shi'ite Muslims who make up 10 to 20 percent of Afghanistan's population and was seen by many as a conciliatory move by Karzai to appease the Taliban and increase his approval among Shi'ites before he faces re-election in August.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).