Italy considers withdrawing female troops from Afghanistan to protest Shi'ite marital law

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April 4, 2009

Italy could withdraw its female troops stationed in Afghanistan to protest against a new law for the country's Shi'ite minority that has been attacked as a blow to women's rights, the Italian defence minister said.

Italy, which is the sixth largest troop contributor to the NATO-led military operation in Afghanistan, is the latest to express concern on the Shi'ite Personal Status Law after some Afghan lawmakers criticised it as legalizing marital rape.

"I realise that it would not be a very easy choice," Ignazio La Russa told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview on Saturday.

"But a temporary withdrawal of our women in uniform, perhaps with the exception of those involved in health services, could represent a very significant gesture on the role of women."

report: http://in.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idINL463527820090404