Angry Afghan MPs halt debate on women’s rights
Conservative lawmakers in Aghanistan halted a debate on women’s rights after just 15 minutes today, failing to approve a law that aims to protect women because parts of it violate Islamic principles, an Afghan legislator said.
Burqa-clad Afghan women walk down a commercial street in central Kabul Photo: AFP/GETTY
12:20PM BST 18 May 2013
The failure highlights how tenuous women's rights remain a dozen years after the ouster of the hard-line Taliban regime, whose strict interpretation of Islam kept Afghan women virtual prisoners in their homes.
The law has actually been in effect since 2009 by presidential decree, but has not gained parliamentary approval. Lawmaker Fawzia Kofi wanted to cement it with a parliamentary vote to prevent its future reversal.
Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes.
Ms Kofi, who according to the BBC survived a Taliban ambush two years ago, said the law was introduced in parliament today but met such fierce opposition that it was withdrawn after just 15 minutes of debate.
It was not clear to which parts lawmakers objected.
