Afghan Women Law that Allows Marital Rape in Afghanistan

Source of this information is CNN: The government in Afghanistan plans to change a legislation that has invited a lot of criticism internationally, that allows the Shia Muslim married women to be raped and not allow them to refuse sexual intercourse with their husbands.

President Hamid Karzai said that he has consulted with the clergy and appropriate changes will be made. The legislation applies only to 20 percent of the Afghan population which constitutes of the Shia Muslims. The 270 pages legislation written by the Shia clergy supports marital rape.

Almost 500 hundred women from all parts of Afghanistan came out to protest the legislation. Women were pelted with stones and cursed, however, the police did nothing much to help. There were around 600 demonstrators who supported the legislation as well.

This legislation has been criticized by US President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and even German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Human rights activists have been trying to change this Shia law since a long time. It was one of the most controversial laws in Afghanistan, however, to change for good. Sigh of relief for Shia women.