Comments on: Quick Hit: The Afghan Rape Law

By: Raj Tiwari

Raj Tiwari — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 19:38:57 +0000

The situation is disheartening, however I do not believe Karzi is directly to blame. The country is run by militants and these practices are part of the cultural norm, how can any foreign influences make a difference? Karzi is in a tough spot, forced to respect these backward organizations that are scattered throughout the country and at the same time try and impose strict governance over these districts. It disappoints me that many of these Islamic militants deface their religion and the people who practice it in the manner it should be.

By: Nisha Chittal

Nisha Chittal — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 02:04:09 +0000

Interesting perspective. I’ve heard different opinions on the state of Hazaras vs. the rest of Afghanistan. Thanks for adding to the discussion.

By: Monk

Monk — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:22:27 +0000

While targeting women is an outrageous aspect of everything Islamic, including this legislation, targeting the women of one of Afghanistan’s most ignored and persecuted ethnic groups i.e. the Hazaras, is even worse.

This law is yet another attempt to undermine the progress Hazaras have made during the last eight years. The facts speak for themselves. Hazara women still refuse to wear full hijab, they have had active participation in programs like Afghan Star. They hold posts such as Afghanistan’s only female governor, only female mayor, head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission and more in NGO’s and offices across the country. Hazarajat has had the most promising female to male ratio in school and university enrollment.

These are facts, unmatched in any of the areas Karzai or his cronies could ever actually represent. He can review it all he wants, the architects of this law is a Pushtoon from Karzai’s hometown. He is pleasing his own electorate at the expense of the Hazaras. What a shame!

By: cooper

cooper — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 01:50:49 +0000

Afghanistan has always had extremely cruel situations regarding women, even without this new law the situation there is appalling, the country has so long been a pawn, a gateway, or seen as something needed by this country or that and discarded by this country or that depending on what is anyone’s best interest at the moment.

The country has never been stable enough or of sound enough government to allow for the women to stand up for their own cause, because of the history thrust upon it by other governments. I hope it’s different this time, but I fear what we are doing now will be just as destructive and leaving for Iraq and letting the Taliban back in, thud …making laws such as this.

By: Chris Kincaid

Chris Kincaid — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:54:21 +0000

I really do hope Karzai does comply with demands to have the law struck down, but leaders like Karzai barely ever let outside pressure influence their own decision-making. Here’s the sad part: even if by some stroke of luck Karzai does review and strike the law, will that really make a difference in Afghanistan? Itll be a great stepping stone, but the unfortunate reality is that the cultural norms more than likely dictated the legislation in the first place; getting rid of the law wont change the highly conservative cultural norms that have remained prevalent in the region since the beginning.

There are unfortunately some battles we just cant win that easily

By: Nisha Chittal

Nisha Chittal — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:05:31 +0000

I agree it’s sickening, and Karzai doesn’t want to do anything about it. But enough international pressure can and inevitably I think WILL force him to take action.

By: LaTosha Johnson

LaTosha Johnson — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:41:42 +0000

This law absolutely sickens me. No one has the right to tell a woman what to do with her body. I believe Karzai didn’t think anyone would “notice” this law and wasn’t prepared for the backlash he was bound to receive once others found out about this law. He’s not going to do anything.

By: Nisha Chittal

Nisha Chittal — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:53:20 +0000

Yeah, I am worried that you may be right. Karzai *said* he will review it, but no one can be sure that he really cares. He supported the legislation in the first place due to political pressure from some of the groups in Afghanistan- I don’t see him backing down that quickly, especially if he is defending it and saying we “misinterpreted” it…. He’s been getting a lot of international backlash though, particularly from Gordon Brown. So let’s hope he really does listen.

By: Chris Kincaid

Chris Kincaid — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:39:10 +0000

Karzai saying he will “review” the law is a blatant lie. His only reasoning for even saying that, sadly, is to deceptively convince Americans that he understands their concern and will work to his best degree to remedy the situation.

Simply put: Karzai wont do a damn thing. The unfortunate reality is that the disparity between men and women rights are so outdated in many countries all over the world that progress in developed nations alone will never convince the Karzai-like people of change.

You cant teach an old Karzai common sense…