Afghan president promises change in marriage law

[babylonsister]

Afghan president promises change in marriage law


HEIDI VOGT and AMIR SHAH | April 27, 2009 10:51 AM EST | AP


KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai vowed Monday to change a law critics say legalizes marital rape to remove concerns that it violates human rights.

The law, which sparked an international outcry after it was signed last month, says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse. It also regulates when and for what reasons a wife may leave her home alone.

Numerous countries condemned the law and President Barack Obama called it "abhorrent," prompting Karzai to suspend the legislation for a judicial review. He said previously the law will be changed, but his comments Monday were his strongest yet against the controversial measure.

"Amendments will take place," and the law "will not have any concerns on any account of human rights and especially the rights of the Afghan people," Karzai told reporters at a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Brown said he discussed the law with Karzai.

The statement appeared to put to rest speculation that Karzai signed the law to pander to conservatives ahead of this summer's presidential election.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20090427/as-afghanistan/

[LakeSamish706]

1. And someone needed to tell them this? What is the brain capacity of these fools anyway? n/t