International Women’s Day in Afghanistan celebrated
The Constitution promises equal rights for men and women, and women are permitted to work outside the home, to engage in political activity, and the Constitution requires each political party to nominate a certain number of female candidates.
During the time of Taliban rule, women had virtually all their rights taken away. Matters ranging from wearing nail polish to job opportunities were severely restricted.
By keeping women indoors, the Taliban claimed to be keeping them safe from harm. In late March 2009, Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed into law an internationally condemned “Shia Family Law” which condones apparent spousal rape (in Article 132), child marriage and imposes purdah on married Afghan women.
Although the offending legislation is said to have been dormant for a year, President Karzai was trying to gain the support of Afghan northern Shia legislators and the neighbouring Islamic Republic of Iran, which is Shia-dominated. According to Britain’s Independent newspaper, the ‘family code’ was not read in the Upper House/Senate, and also enshrines gender discrimination in inheritance law and divorce against women.
