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Afghan law lets husbands starve wives for denying sex
Women's rights may be the first loser in the much-anticipated presidential election this week in Afghanistan. The BBC is reporting that just days before the national vote, a controversial Shia law has gone in the books giving husbands disturbing power over their wives.
A married man, for instance, can starve his wife if she refuses his sexual demands. He also must grant permission for his wife to work. In its initial form, the law reportedly called for women to have sex with their husbands at least once every four days and removed the need for sexual consent within marriage, effectively condoning rape. Despite outrage by human rights groups and foreign leaders, a differently worded version of the law seems to have persevered.
Critics point the finger at President Hamid Karzai, who is accused of allowing the Taliban-like law to take effect as a way to shore up support among fundamentalists in the upcoming election.
Women's rights may be the first loser in the much-anticipated presidential election this week in Afghanistan. The BBC is reporting that just days before the national vote, a controversial Shia law has gone in the books giving husbands disturbing power over their wives.
A married man, for instance, can starve his wife if she refuses his sexual demands. He also must grant permission for his wife to work. In its initial form, the law reportedly called for women to have sex with their husbands at least once every four days and removed the need for sexual consent within marriage, effectively condoning rape. Despite outrage by human rights groups and foreign leaders, a differently worded version of the law seems to have persevered.
Critics point the finger at President Hamid Karzai, who is accused of allowing the Taliban-like law to take effect as a way to shore up support among fundamentalists in the upcoming election.
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