Afghanistan’s new “rape” law hinders future growth

Afghanistan is no longer ruled by the Taliban. But a new law that is gaining international criticism aims to carry out the very goals of the country’s stringent past: oppress Afghani women.

Dozens of Shiite Muslim women held demonstrations in Kabul Wednesday protesting this law that allows husbands, among other things, the right to demand sex from their wives.

The law only applies to Afghanistan’s Shiite minority. They represent a mere 20 percent of the country’s 30 million population and not all women, regardless of creed, oppose the law.

The NY Times reported that many believe President Hamid Karzai – who relies on Western support to stay in power – signed the bill into law to gain the conservative support of Shiite clergymen. Karzai is also up for re-election later this year.

Dubbed the “rape law,” the NY Times states:

One provision makes it illegal for a woman to resist her husband’s sexual advances. A second provision requires a husband’s permission for a woman to work outside the home or go to school. And a third makes it illegal for a woman to refuse to “make herself up” or “dress up” if that is what her husband wants.

Also, unless a woman is ill, her husband is specifically allowed to demand sex every four days, according to the Associated Press.

President Barack Obama has called the law “abhorrent” while Britain’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown has refused to provide soldiers to a country that oppresses its women.

Karzai has given in to pressure from the West and promised to send the law to his Ministry of Justice for review.

This law is not about religion anymore. It’s a society’s wrongful approach to women’s rights. It’s about a woman’s right to flourish and give back to her society.

Even if a man didn’t abuse such powers, what would happen if a women refused him?

While women hold positions of power in parliament, this law will only hinder any positive growth Afghanistan faces in the future. If this nation does not allow a crucial part of its society to advance, political maneuvering will once again give way for backward steps of the past.

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Credit: Urmi Rahman, a freelance journalist residing in California. She received her B.A. in political science with minors in English and journalism from Cal State Fullerton. Urmi, 25, is also the editor and co-founder of Minority Dreams Magazine.