Oppression…

AFGHANISTAN has quietly passed a law permitting Shiite men to deny their wives food and sustenance if they refuse to obey their husbands' sexual demands, despite international outrage over an earlier version of the legislation that President Hamid Karzai had promised to review.

The new final draft of the legislation also grants guardianship of children exclusively to their fathers and grandfathers, and requires women to gain permission from their husbands to work.

''It also effectively allows a rapist to avoid prosecution by paying 'blood money' to a girl who was injured when he raped her,'' the US charity Human Rights Watch said.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/barbaric-laws-reverse-afghan-womens-rights-20090815-elqj.html

I don’t doubt these ‘law makers’ were quiet as they slipped this law in being. It is wrong and disgusting and barbaric. To me, it’s effectively saying that women have no rights whatsoever when it comes to sex and their own bodies. Women are literally screwed by these laws. You’re not in the mood for sex? ‘Got a headache? Too bad. He wants it. You have to. As a woman you have no rights.

Just think for one moment if you as a woman were not ‘allowed’ to go outside the house. That means no shopping, no work, no meeting friends, no pursuing hobbies and no furthering your education. You are under the control of a man. Basically what is between your legs defines your life. I cannot even fathom that. It smacks at every fundamental human right.

What if you had a smart, talented daughter growing up in that atmosphere? What if she wanted to further her education but wasn’t allowed? What if she wanted more? You have no rights over her because as a woman you are not her guardian. Both you and she must remain in your place because that’s the law.

And a rapist paying ‘blood money’ and escaping punishment? We would be in an uproar if this happened in our countries. It’s sick and demeaning towards women.

For all his fine words, Afghanistan leader Hamid Karzai is no better than the mob he replaced. I believe he is more interested in dressing well and appeasing men than equal rights. A true leader leads all his people not just dictates to the minority to appease others.

This makes me damned angry. I feel helpless that I cannot help these women. I want to get on a plane and kick the arse of these dickheads. We absolutely take our freedom for granted. We are incredibly lucky we don’t have nitwits passing archaic laws due to gender. Imagine being a chattel? A baby making machine? How long would any of us last? Not long I’d reckon. What strength these women in Afghanistan, and other similar countries, must have to endure all this bullshit without giving up hope.

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