Afghan leader orders review of Shi'ite law

[G_j]

Source: Reuters

Afghan leader orders review of Shi'ite law

Reuters
Saturday, April 4, 2009; 11:18 AM

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai has ordered a review of a new law for Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority after Western nations raised concerns over its impact on women's rights, Western officials said on Saturday.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had voiced grave concern over the Shi'ite Personal Status Law in a phone call to Karzai on Saturday and had "demanded assurances" that the law would not infringe women's rights.

"He (Karzai) has promised there will be a statement made by his Justice Department tomorrow and he has promised that, if necessary, this will return to the Afghan parliament rather than being enacted in practice," Brown told a news conference.

He was speaking at a NATO summit at which Britain and other countries agreed to send more troops to Afghanistan to step up security during August presidential elections.

"People will not accept that British soldiers are working in Afghanistan to make Afghanistan safe if the rights of women are not being properly upheld in the country," Brown said.

A British official said Karzai had told Brown he had asked Afghanistan's Justice Ministry to look at every aspect of the law, consult with the Shi'a community and if necessary bring a revised draft back to parliament.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/04/AR2009040401014.html

[McCamy Taylor]

1. If the Afghans want foreigners out, oppressing women is the exact opposite of what they should do.

It was their oppression of women under the Taliban that made Americans so hot to intervene in the first place.

[Mari333]

2. naw. we used that as one of the excuses.

its always been about the oil interests.

[ohio2007]

3. A woman has got to learn her limits

[MasonJar]

4. Good for Brown. Did we voice concern? If not, we must.

[bkkyosemite]

5. Hilary Clinton voiced concern. And made a statement.