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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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Afghanistan Changing 'Legalized Rape' Law

Afghan prez says he hadn't been aware law was on the books

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(Newser) – Afghanistan will revise a law that critics say legalizes marital rape, President Hamid Karzai tells CNN. Karzai said he was unaware of the provision, part of a 270-page piece of legislation covering the country's 6 million Shiite Muslims. "Now I have instructed, in consultation with clergy of the country, that the law be revised and any article that is not in keeping with the Afghan constitution and Islamic Sharia must be removed from this law," he said.

The law—labeled "abhorrent" by President Obama—stated that a wife must submit to her husband's sexual advances, unless ill. Karzai's decision came the day after women from across Afghanistan marched in Kabul to protest the law, meeting violent opposition from a counter-demonstration of Shia men who pelted them with stones.

Afghan female police officers link their arms to create a barrier for Shiite counter protesters during a demonstration in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Afghan female police officers link their arms to create a barrier for Shiite counter protesters during a demonstration in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan Shiite protesters shout slogans in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Afghan Shiite protesters shout slogans in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
Afghan police officers stop Shiite counter-protesters from attacking a demonstration of women in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.
Afghan police officers stop Shiite counter-protesters from attacking a demonstration of women in Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, April 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
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9 comments
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Fondue
Apr 17, 09 9:32 AM CDT
This culture will never earn the rite of passage into the modern world with this kind of crap. Reply
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NutsInNY
Apr 17, 09 9:35 AM CDT
Sounds like a good outcome to me: women marched, conservatives listened to reason.
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NutsInNY
Apr 17, 09 9:34 AM CDT
So marital rape is not allowed under Sharia law? Hmmm. Reply
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ClingingToHope
Apr 17, 09 10:21 AM CDT
Islam. The religion of peace. Reply
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myvoice
Apr 17, 09 11:12 AM CDT
it was not that long ago that you could rape your wife in the good ole USA. "The rule of thumb" came from the law that stated you can not beat your wife with a stick thicker than your thumb. So its not just Islam that oppresses woman. The America we live in now has changed, but its change comes from the fact the America is losing the religious grip that other countries still have. The more secular America becomes the more democratic it will be. And for the GOP people out there who think the secular movement is bad. Should thank their grandmothers for fighting for the right to vote. Because the reason they couldn't vote before was due to religion. The same thing today with gay marriage! So America is a little better but not enough to be self righteous!! Reply
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