Hundreds of women protested in Kabul over a controversial law that allows husbands to demand sex from their wives. The law has been widely condemned in the West as sanctioning rape within marriage. Sky's Lisa Holland reports.
Afghan Women Protest Against Sex Law (News Story)
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Afghan sex law draws protests in Kabul
Women go up against men, other women
BY HEIDI VOGT • ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 16, 2009
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KABUL, Afghanistan -- Dozens of women braved crowds of men screaming "dogs!" on Wednesday to protest an Afghan law that lets husbands demand sex from their wives. Some men pelted the women with small stones.
"Slaves of the Christians!" chanted the 800 or so counterdemonstrators, a mix of men and women. A line of female police officers locked hands to keep the groups apart.
The protests highlight the explosive nature of the women's rights debate in Afghanistan. Both sides are preparing for battle over the legislation, which has sparked an international uproar since being signed into law last month.
What the conflict is about
The law says a husband can demand sex from his wife every four days, unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse. It also regulates when and why a wife may leave home without a male escort.
Though the law would apply only to the country's Shi'ites, who make up less than 20% of Afghanistan's 30 million people, many fear its passage marks a return to Taliban-style oppression of women.
Governments and rights groups have condemned the law. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has remanded it to the Justice Department for review and put enforcement on hold.
Division among women, too
Afghan intellectuals and politicians have come out against it and faced criticism from conservative Muslims.
Protester Mehri Rezai, 32, urged Afghans to reject the law. "This law treats women as if we were sheep," she said.
In the end, more women demonstrated in favor of the law than against it: A few hundred marched with banners to join the men, blaming foreigners for inciting the protests.
Afghan sex law draws protests in Kabul
Women go up against men, other women
BY HEIDI VOGT • ASSOCIATED PRESS • April 16, 2009
Print this page
E-mail this article
Share this article
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Dozens of women braved crowds of men screaming "dogs!" on Wednesday to protest an Afghan law that lets husbands demand sex from their wives. Some men pelted the women with small stones.
"Slaves of the Christians!" chanted the 800 or so counterdemonstrators, a mix of men and women. A line of female police officers locked hands to keep the groups apart.
The protests highlight the explosive nature of the women's rights debate in Afghanistan. Both sides are preparing for battle over the legislation, which has sparked an international uproar since being signed into law last month.
What the conflict is about
The law says a husband can demand sex from his wife every four days, unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse. It also regulates when and why a wife may leave home without a male escort.
Though the law would apply only to the country's Shi'ites, who make up less than 20% of Afghanistan's 30 million people, many fear its passage marks a return to Taliban-style oppression of women.
Governments and rights groups have condemned the law. Afghan President Hamid Karzai has remanded it to the Justice Department for review and put enforcement on hold.
Division among women, too
Afghan intellectuals and politicians have come out against it and faced criticism from conservative Muslims.
Protester Mehri Rezai, 32, urged Afghans to reject the law. "This law treats women as if we were sheep," she said.
In the end, more women demonstrated in favor of the law than against it: A few hundred marched with banners to join the men, blaming foreigners for inciting the protests.