Sunday, April 5, 2009

More Info About Sharia Law in Afghanistan

A few days ago I did a post about the new bullshit Sharia law in Afghanistan, which a little about each section of the law and how it would affect women and children.

I found a more detailed breakdown of the laws from the RAWA site:

Article 47

(1) Guardianship of children is granted to father and paternal grandfather, both of which are of the same value, and do not cancel the effect of each other. In case of non agreement on the affair of guardianship by father and grandfather, the guardianship by grand father holds prime importance.

(2) Father and grand father, in the absence of each other, can authorize someone to be the guardian of the child, but in case of one of them being alive, other guardian can not be chosen. (The amendment brought by Lower House of the Parliament affected the question of WHEN the guardianship could be shifted from mother to father (9 for girls and 7 for boys), but it didnt affect the issue itself. )

Article 122

(1) When a minor is wed by his father, Mahar (dowery) is the responsibility of the minor. (This implies that a minor could be wed. The amendment that sets the age of marriage, 16 for girls and 18 for boys, as also given in the Afghan Civil Law, contradicts this article. If a minor is not to be wed at all, then there is no need for this article).

(2) In case the father pays the dowery, and if the minor boy, when matured, divorces his wife prior to intercourse, then the bride can ask for 50% of the dowery to be given to her.

Article 132

(3) The couple should not commit acts that creat hatred and bitterness in their relationship, The wife is bound to preen for her husband, as and when he desires.

(4) The husband, except when travelling or ill, is bound to have intercourse with his wife every night in four nights. The wife is bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband. (women have no sexual freedom in Afghanistan traditionally and from the Islamic point of view. this needs to be checked with an authority on Islam and Quran, but for as much as I know, it is implemented in society on Islamic basis)

(7) The wife is bound to perform household works only if it was put down as a condition in the marriage document, otherwise, wife is not bound to performing household chores.

Article 133

(1) Husband is responsible for the family maintenance (financially), unless this right is given to the wife due to husband's mental disorder or a decision of the court.

(2)If the wife was a working woman before marriage, and the marriage document does not condition her to stop working, the husband cannot stop her from work, unless her work affects the interest of the family or the position of either wife or husband in a negative way.

(3) Husband can stop the wife from any unnecessary, unIslamic act. (and who defines unnecessary and unIslamic?)

(4) Wife cannot leave the house without the permission of the husband, unless due to any serious pressure or difficulty and to address that. (this paragraph basically stops women from leaving the house without their husbands' permission, the part after the "unless..." is not helpful as again the question comes as to who defines serious pressure and difficulty.)

Article 166

Divorce should be given in the presence of two fair/ just men. If later found that both or one of those men were not fair/ just, the divorce is cancelled. (being fair means having performed Shariat duties, abstaining from the wrong and having fear of God).

Article 177

(1) The husband is bound to provide maintenance to his wife.

(2) The wife does not have the right to the provision of maintenance by the husband unless she agrees to have intercourse with him and he gets an opportunity for doing so.

(4) Obediance, readiness for intercourse and not leaving the house without the permission of the husband are the duties of the wife, violation of every one of them will mean disobediance to the husband. (further emphasis on paragraph 4 of Article 133)

Article 226

(7) Husband inherits both moveable and immovable property from a deceases wife, but wife can inherit only moveable property. She will also inherit from the construction/ buildings built on the land owned by the husband, the trees or other immoveable property. Husband's family can pay the price of the inherited property to the wife. She also inherits from the water of the wells and canals.

In addition:

Article 27 for instance sets the age of maturity to be 15 for boys; for girls it is when they have their first period, which could be at an early age of 9 or 10.

Luverly.

Sláinte!

Laurel

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