Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010
 |  Follow Newser on Twitter   Friend Newser on Facebook   Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds   Subscribe to Newser emails Newsletters


7

Crowd Attacks Afghan Women Protesting New Marriage Laws

Share

(AP) – A group of some 1000 Afghans today swarmed a demonstration of 300 women in Kabul protesting a new conservative marriage law. The women were pelted with small stones as police struggled to keep the two groups apart. The law, passed last month, says a husband can demand sex from his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse—a clause that critics say legalizes marital rape.

Women's rights activists scheduled today's protest, attended by mostly young women. But counterprotesters—both men and women—swamped the group and shouted down the women's chants. Some picked up gravel and stones and threw them at the women, while others shouted, "Death to the slaves of the Christians!" Female police held hands around the group to create a protective barrier.

Tribal women wait for their children at a UNICEF school.
Tribal women wait for their children at a UNICEF school.   (AP Photo)
An Afghan shia woman listens to Mohammad Asif Mohseni, not in photo, a top Afghan Shia.
An Afghan shia woman listens to Mohammad Asif Mohseni, not in photo, a top Afghan Shia.   (AP Photo)
Afghan women pray for justice and security of the country during a gathering to mark the International Women's Day in Kabul.
Afghan women pray for justice and security of the country during a gathering to mark the International Women's Day in Kabul.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
2.9.10
It’s the Sex, Stupid   
2.8.10
For Me, Palin Scores
7 comments
VIEWING:
 
kokuaguy
Apr 15, 09 9:43 AM CDT
Female police? I guess Karzai gets credit for something, Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
Apr 15, 09 9:59 AM CDT
Probably a requirement of their Muslim-inspired laws that there must be female cops, in case physical contact is required with women.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
kokuaguy
Apr 15, 09 11:00 AM CDT
No doubt. Mahalo NINY. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
woody66
Apr 15, 09 11:01 AM CDT
....and they'll greet us as liberators when we send more troops and spend ten years winning their "freedom". I don't like the Shiiite law either but it has been the rule of their land for a long long long time. Have we stopped to ask ourselves and the Afghan people (not Karzai) what they want, or are we content to act out of our own vague "national security" interest ? If we are interested in protecting America which is 12,000 miles away or so, do we need 50,000 troops in a country which really doesn't want us there imposing our will and values ? Will it help ? Can we do it another way ? There are long held traditions and there is deep rooted tribalism which will take decades to morph into any form of democracy as we know it.. Democracy and social change happen when people are ready for it. It cannot be imposed. You cannot compare Afganistan to East Germany or Iraq who had a prior history with democracy, a functioning economy and a significant educated class. Until then let's hold the Afganistan down by the throat so they won't cause any trouble.....so they get more pissed (Vietnam redux ?) and the guys with the wacky ideas and box cutters go and find another place to hang out. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
radnip
Apr 17, 09 1:55 PM CDT
So that's what they call protecting women: surround them, shout at them and throw stones at them. It's good to understand the terms when a different society with different definitions uses them. So now I get "protect". Next: peaceful. I hear Muslims are peaceful... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 7 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

8 Stories

Insurgents Reverse Afghan Women's Political Gains

Aug 31, 09 8:23 AM CDT

Insurgents Reverse Afghan Women's Political Gains

(Newser) - Afghan women streamed to the ballot boxes five years ago, and in some districts female turnout was even higher than male. But the flood of women voters that delighted aid groups dried up this year, reports the Washington Post, and many of the segregated female polling stations had few if... More »

 Afghan Elections a 
 Setback for Women 



Low female turnout could mean leaders even less responsive to women

Aug 24, 09 10:17 AM CDT

Afghan Elections a Setback for Women

Low female turnout could mean leaders even less responsive to women

(AP) - For women, Afghanistan's recent elections appear to have been more of a setback than a step forward. Early reports strongly suggest that voter turnout fell more sharply for women than for men in last week's polls. Election observers blame Taliban attacks, a dearth of female election workers, and the closure... More »

Afghan Prez Confirms Re-Election Bid

Karzai promises to amend controversial 'marital rape' law

Apr 28, 09 5:59 AM CDT

Afghan Prez Confirms Re-Election Bid

Karzai promises to amend controversial 'marital rape' law

(Newser) - Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has confirmed for the first time that he will run for re-election in the country's elections this summer, the Times of London reports. Karzai repeated his pledge to amend a controversial law critics say condones marital rape and child marriage, surprising observers who believed he would... More »

8 Stories

Copyright 2010 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.


 
Afghanistan • Shiite • law • women's rights • stoning • protesters • marital rape

from our news partners

Please wait, content is loading
Please wait, content is loading

Just For Laughs

Loading...