18 Apr 2009

Afghanistan's women find their voice

Despite being called a prostitute and a bitch by furious madrasa students, Shinkai Karokhail, one of Afghanistan's 68 MPs with seats constitutionally reserved for women, described what happened on Wednesday morning as "a wonderful occasion".

Afghan Shia women protest in Kabul

"It was the first time in the history of Afghanistan that women were aware of their rights," she said. "It was a fantastic statement that women will demand equal rights."

The previous evening one of Afghanistan's most powerful Shia clerics, Mohamad Asif Mohseni, published an order on his personal television station that members of his sect must not allow their wives and daughters to attend the unprecedented and historic demonstration in Kabul against a law the UN says legalises marital rape.  The Guardian