Afghans call for controversial women's rights law to be scrapped

Source: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2013/06/14/309012/afghan-women-protest-rights-decree/

Hundreds of angry Afghan women in Kabul have demanded the repeal of a controversial presidential decree on their rights, Press TV reports.

The protesters said the decree - supposed to prevent violence against women - is imposed by foreigners and violates the Islamic law.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai signed off on the decree on women’s rights as part of his commitments to international donors.

Some Afghan organizations fear that the US-led foreign states want to impose their agenda and tarnish the Afghan culture under disguise of Western democracy and women’s rights in the country.

A brief parliamentary debate in recent weeks was ended after fierce opposition from several lawmakers who said several provisions of the decree violated the Islamic law. The Afghan lawmakers’ vehement opposition blocked an attempt to cement the decree’s provisions in legislation.

The violence against women has increased since the US-led foreign forces invaded the country. The foreign forces have also killed thousands of civilians, including many women and children, in airstrikes and night-time raids since they invaded the country in 2001.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity.