A STEP BACK FOR WOMEN IN AFGHANISTAN

By No Limits on 08/18/2009 @ 12:08 PM

Troubling news from Afghanistan about the controversial law restricting women's lives: Despite opposition from Afghan women - including a brave, historic demonstration - and international outrage, the law was secretly enacted by President Hamid Karzai last week.

At the time the law was in the spotlight, Karzai promised revisions. But as the BBC said about the law as enacted: it “allows a man to withhold food from his wife if she refuses his sexual demands; a woman must get her husband's permission to work; and fathers and grandfathers are given exclusive custody of children.”

Elections in Afghanistan are scheduled for August 20, 2009, and we will continue to follow this story. Secretary of State Clinton has made clear that the U.S. does not support any candidate: “The Afghan people should be commended for their courage in conducting this election despite the stresses of wartime…” she said. “The United States of America remains impartial in this election. We do not support or oppose any particular candidate.”

We will continue to follow this story, and to support the courageous efforts of the women of Afghanistan.

The No Limits Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, which means we cannot post material that is political or partisan. Comments or postings reflect the opinions of the author only, and in no way reflect the position of No Limits. No Limits does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any posting. If you send a blog post to No Limits and we publish it on the site, we will note you as the author but we cannot pay for any submissions. Because of space considerations, not all posts submitted may be published. We are not responsible for the content of or for third party rights in material posted by you. For more information, please visit our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.