Updated: Wed Apr. 15 2009 11:17:57 AM

CTV.ca News Staff

A 300-strong group of Afghan women were pelted with small stones Wednesday as they protested against a controversial law that legalizes rape within marriage.

A much larger group of about 1,000 Afghans -- both men and women -- swarmed the demonstration to throw stones and shout at the women.

Police struggled to keep the two groups from clashing and even formed a human chain around the anti-marriage law demonstrators.

The so-called Shia Family Law allows a husband to demand sex from his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by the act.

Critics say the law, passed by Afghanistan's national assembly last month, essentially legalizes marital rape.

It also confines women to the home unless they have a male escort.

The law has sparked outrage among Western nations, including Canada, which forced President Karzai to issue a statement saying that he has ordered a review of the legislation.

If made official, the law would only apply to the Shiites living in Afghanistan -- about 10 to 20 per cent of the country's 30 million people.

Shiite supporters say foreigners are becoming too involved in the private affairs of Afghans.

On Wednesday, the counter-protesters shouted "Death to the slaves of the Christians!" at the demonstrators.

"You are a dog! You are not a Shiite woman!" one man shouted to a young woman protester.

The woman, holding a banner that said "We don't want Taliban law," did not shout back.

"This is my land and my people," she said.

Fourteen-year-old Masuma Hasani said her whole family had joined the protest against the law.

"I am concerned about my future with this law," she said. "We want our rights. We don't want women to just be used."

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Mariam Sajadi said foreigners were the "enemy of Afghanistan."

Sajadi, engaged to be married, said she plans to follow the law and ask her husband's permission to leave the house.

She said the parts of the law dealing with sexual relations between husband and wife have been misinterpreted by Westerners.

With files from The Associated Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Eileen25
Those Shiite women who support this disgusting law remind me of the "Stockholm Syndrome" in which the abused come to love their abusers.

I guess if one is born into this culture and indoctrinated from birth, one supports it fully. There is no room for outside thought or reason.

glen
this is a very uncivilized country. it doesn't matter if they change this law. because at the grass roots level things will remain the same. intimidation and violence are part of the culture. women are non persons there

dwayne-ottawa
The world has to stand strong our troops are dying for th rights of women and children so this does not happen. If this law is passed and others like this follow PULL OUR TROOPS

Bill in BC
And people have the nerve to be surprised! This is NOT a civilized place.

Lost Cause
We are theoretically there in part to come to the aid of what those women being stoned represents (I stress "theoretically"). At the same time, for years now we have been putting our military into combat and therefore harm's way to secure a government who wants to sign this rape law into effect, which flies in the face of the theory of coming to the aid of what those women being stoned represents.

On the other hand, a counter protest of Shiite women appears in the scenario reported today, arguing that they don't want foreigners meddling in their lives.

Does any of this make sense? No, it doesn't. This war is either being run by incompetents or we are all being played.

As a theoretical alternative end to this, how about we leave, and at as a part of that process, work on securing the exit of women in Afghanistan who want to escape fundamentalist Islamic repression. How many NATO countries would step forward and open their doors to welcome those would join such an Exodus? That would be an interesting answer to know.

If the combined US and NATO forces really wanted to help the women of Afghanistan that's one way that they could do it, but if such an idea was proposed, I have a feeling that the depth of our collective well of compassion for the women of Afghanistan would suddenly be revealed as a lot more shallow than our political figureheads have been putting on in recent years...

Gerald from Belleville
Barbarians.

Here, out West, a lot of us have this touchy feely notion that we shouldn't look down on other cultures and we shouldn't judge. Our culture is far from perfect...but we're not stoning anyone protesting against rape. That certainly puts us above people who do. In this day and age, this type of behavior and these antiquated beliefs are ludicrous and unacceptable.

So, for all those out there who believe in marital rape and go out to throw stone at women who dare take a stand against rape: you are barbarians, your beliefs are inferior to mine, and it's about time you evolve.

worried from Whitby
I used to support our mission over there , but now I'm not so sure. These fanatics will never change, no matter what freedoms and democracy we impose on them these wastes of humanity will always be festering in the indergrowth with their bitterness, prejudice, hate and unrelenting intolerance. I'm beginning to feel every wonderful Canadian kid we lose over there is wasted. Honestly, I don't know what the solution is.

Joseph in Toronto
I guess I am going to have to put my vacation plans to that part of the world on hold. (And yes, I am being sarcastic.)

Hide
Men have been using religon to manipulate women for centuries. (It seems to me that the Catholics still do.) How quickly we forget Christian men treating their wives and children as nothing but chattel 'cause they said the Bible dictated that the man was in charge and women were subserviant. It has only been in the last one hundred years that we have realized that the Bible says we are equal and to work together for a better world.

Afghanistan is civilized...just slow in catching up with the rest of the world.

As for pulling troops out....when we first heard the cry of the women in this country, how many people said 'something should be done to help them?'

boomer
Time for Canada to get out... How can we support a Government (Afgan Gov) that passes a law to remove rights to woman

Mark from Ottawa
I wouldn't be surprised if all of the supporters of these oppressive laws truly believe (indoctrinated since birth) that to do anything else is sinful, and carries a very real chance (in their minds) that bad things will happen in the afterlife. Uncivilised or not, belief systems have a very strong grip on some people, even in the West.

agboudreau
Pull our Troops!!!!!!
We can not support this Afghan Government. If they pass law like this. I do not see any reason why we should put our soldiers life at risk. PULL THEM OUT NOW Mr Harper....

Rick in NB
It's hard to be the champion of Afghan women when we don't know what they want.
Really if that many women are for this law than who are we to interfere. It is their land and their way.
Who do we defeat to make people change the way they think.
If we want to put our troops in harms way, wouldn't it be wise to help people who want help.

Mark
....and THIS is what Canadians are fighting and dying for? A country where they actually WANT a law that legalizes/forces the rape of a woman by her husband?

I never thought I'd say this, but my thoughts at this point are to hell with Afghanistan, bring home the troops. This medieval, backward crowd does not DESERVE our help.

Shamaro
This mindset of treating women like the family pet, is going to take generations to change.

No army anywhere in the world can change this mindset.

It is going to have to take years of dedicated people to help educate the newer generation of people in Afghanistan and to hopefully carry this on into the future.

Nanook
Sex every 4 days??? Try every 4 months, like most Canadian married men!!!!!

We should have our own protests!!!

kc in alberta
The only true hope for any real lasting progress in a backwards, oppressed, unstable, primitive place like Afghanistan are people like the family that came out with their 2 young daughters to demonstrate for their equality.

It is only when a majority of young men and women are being raised by their parents and taught in schools to believe that oppression of one sex by the other is a travesty that it will cease to be the norm.

Even without regressive, punitive laws that legitimize the victimization of their women some men will continue to do so.

That is why it is essential that the Afghan government only supports laws that reflect a goal of equality of the sexes and it is also essential that our government only support them if they fully embrace human rights for all their citizens as one of their governing principles.

Anything else and we become participants in the continued enslavement and mistreatment of women in Afghanistan by sending mixed messages about how they can officially be treated in their own society.

John
Pull out our troops.

These brave men & women should be brought home. We will find something else for them to do.

The middle east is such a backward place, they've been living like that for hundreds of years. They will not evolve, there blinded by a religion. The thought process from these people is mind numbing.

I have nothing against other people, just religions.

Outraged
The people who protest this "law" are not anti-muslim, but rather anti-slavery! That is all this law is! This will force women to be slaves, and worse, prisoners! What was the war fought for, but for freedom for EVERYONE? Not just the men and boys, but for the women and young girls of that country as well. It is not acceptable, and certainly should not be a law, that a woman has no right to refuse her husband if she so wishes. Otherwise, this is not marriage; it is LEGALIZED RAPE!And even the Prophet never allowed that!
She will be forced to submit to someone at any time, bear his children, and have no control over her own body for the rest of her life?! That is what they call civilized behaviour? How can this create a better environment for the younger generation? How would this benefit society as a whole? Oh yeah! That's right....it would'nt help anyone but the men! SHAME ON YOU ALL FOR DESCECRATING THE WORDS OF THE PROPHET!!!

Anthony - Nova Scotia
I agree with dwayne-ottawa on this one. We have had 116 Canadians die over there to protect that country from this type of rule. Now they wish to bring it back?

Screw the 2011 deadline for pullout... if they passed this law, modified or not, we must pull out our troops immediately. Why continue to protect an uncivilized country if it decides to backtrack to what it was in the past?

PULL THEM OUT!

Munqad Aalam Faeezah
I demand sex from my GF everyday!

Does that make me a bad person?

Doesn't mean I get it, even thought I whine like a 5 year old til I get my way!

B. Kelley, Ontario
NATO has the leverage in Afghanistan and should use it. Give the government there 2 years to enshrine true gender equality in their constitution, their laws (both civil and statutory)and in everyday cultural practice. Failure to do so would result in an immediate total withdrawal of military and financial support and total isolation from trade with any member country. The Afghanis would then have a very clear choice; reject centuries of unacceptable mistreatment of 50% of their citizens and move into the 21st century with prosperity or continue in their old oppressive ways and starve. We Christians smartened up a long time ago on this issue and so can the Muslims.

CYL
Women need to start showing some power. Men don't like that in that side of the world. Go Afghan Women ! Go Women ! Power to you.

Canadian woman
It takes a lot of strength and courage to stand up for anything! In this case it requires even more since these women are going against the status quo. I am amazed at the passion and dedication shown by these women. The issue is really about choice, if some Shite women want to live by that law they should be able to choose. If they don't want to abide by that law they should be able to choose that as well

As I sit here today, as a women, I am very thankful to live and grown up in a country that values me as human being. I have a hard growing up and watching what the taliban did to women and how it is still impacting these women and others around the world today.

renoir
Perusing through the response so far, here are some words that paint the correct picture of this place!
Barbarians, Uncivilized, fanatics, manipulative, unreasonable. I could add some even more descriptive words to this list. So, as someone else said, R U surprised ? We are fighting against indecent irresponsible islamic fanatics who will stop at nothing to have their way over the poor and the oppressed (women and children) who are slaves of the system. This IS islam folks! get our people out of there now. They are not worth dying for, let them kill each other and if they do not stop threathening others, use bigger weapons! Enough already!

Niagara George
I think our original task in Afghanistan was to help the people of that nation move toward democratic government.

They have started far behind where we are today. The government they are used to is the government the western world knew 200+ years ago.

We should not expect them to jump into our mold, immediately.

My guess is that only a few years ago (perhaps as few as 30) a North American husband would never be charged with raping his wife. That is a recent concept, even for us.

Few of us have any real understanding of Afghan culture. My guess if that few of you have ever lived in a place where there is little or no electricity, where people work to survive, where entertainment is what you do and not the show someone else puts on for you.

Let's not ridicule what we do not understand, especially when it is probably a huge step forward, for the people involved.

Howard in Brampton
Just another of the many reasons why we should not have troops in Afghanistan. In order to help these peoples to achieve some form of democracy and establish human rights for all their citizens, the religious and or societal cultures that enable or reinforce the traditional patriarchy's ideology, would necessarily have to change. How would you tell any Afghanistani man that his familial authority over his family is at an end regardless of their historical culture, religious or otherwise? If you attempt to remove power from someone who has wielded it for all of their history, much blood will be shed.

Barbara in Blueberry BC
So, only a percentage of women will be subject to this law, right? That makes it okay? Then it must be okay if only people with a personal belief in murder are allowed to commit that act too. Seems to me I have read that at least one nation supports the belief that killing is okay if you are assuring family unity, like killing the daughter who dares to be found not a virgin when she is to wed. But hey, that is only a percentage of people who believe that so ... what the heck, let them, right? Wrong.

And yes, I am beginning to agree that there is no way to change these beliefs that to us are barbaric, and if western civilization is what we are sending our troops to fight for, we are wasting a lot of time, effort, money, and precious lives.

Ken - Calgary
And people wonder why those of us in the centre and on the left are insisting that our troops be brought home NOW. Not 2011, NOW. Our troops are DYING for a country that wants to legalize rape! They want to be that barbaric, fine - pull all foreign military from the country and let them deal with their own problems. By protecting them, we are, by proxy, assisting them with upholding a rape law. We as Canadians cannot tolerate this.

nathan
Pull the troops and offer asylum to those who wish to flee. Obviously there should be a lot less men than women, and I imagine more young people than old timers.

YA from Toronto ON
As a Muslim, I want to make sure that an average reader knows that this law has no Islamic roots what so ever. This is a men made rule with very disturbing mind and ideas.

An average Afghan person cannot write their own name (it is a fact). What do you think the laws they will make? It is country deprived of knowledge and therefore common sense. This issue is an Afghan issue and therefore cannot be done over within a day or night. These people need education and as time passes the new generation will change the face of Afghan and not any war or political changes.

This battle is a long one and will require a generation or two before any good outcome can be harbored.

Tom in Winnipeg
It is going to take generations for that culture to become more humanistic and to have more respect for human rights. But the West must continue to support this transition, and a Western cultural or military presence is necessary for this. Note that the article said that Western troops were protecting the protestors from more brutal attack and from being completely silenced. Rural Afghanistan has really only been culturally exposed to West for maybe 20 years. But after generations go by, things will improve -- remember, the very left-wing Socialist Scandianavian counties were once the home of the brutal murderous Vikings -- so cultures do indeed change over the passage of generations.

Alain in Toronto
We need all countries to commit themselves at 100% to the cause and send in as many troops as possible. Afghanistan has to be occupied in the same way that allied forces occupied Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. We need to overun them by sheer force and numbers. If we don't man up to this situation and allow this cancer to keep growing (I.E. Taliban), then we will be facing another 9/11.

schmidt
The women who protested the against the law were not shiite. It was organised by RAWA a secretive organisation. If those who think the supporters of the law are 'uncivilised' then incest, teenage pregnancy, thousands of rapes and sexualisation of women as a a commercial product must be 'civilised' then. Afghan Parliament has more women MPs then Britain and most European countries. It was passed by both houses of parliament and signed by elected president. There were no criticisms of the law until the Western political interference in the country. Get out of Afghanistan you bloody savage warmongers!

Judith
Maybe we should be arming the women instead of trying to support an army and police force of males.
How does a female army sound?

WestofTheRockies
Since when did our military mission in Afghanistan become a mission to change their way of life overall?

Do we agree with this new law? Certainly not, but we're not there to run the country. Maybe we can provide some influence.

It was clear that we are there to defeat the Taliban & their partners, to eliminate their safe haven there to train terrorists and disrupt their ability to plot & train for further attacks against the west. For this to be accomplished we have to spend some time there stabilizing the country & ensuring a stable government.

Hey, we can either do it there or try and fight them here on our own soil later, while cleaning up the carnage they bring.

Any of you who think this is not the case are delusional. Their intent is the destruction of the way of life we enjoy here in this country as well as other countries!

That's it. We are at war. This is not some feel good peace keeping mission. Just like all the wars & conflicts Canada has been involved in over he last 100 years, the fighting is taking place somewhere else.

How about a little support for those who put their lives on the line over there so you don't have to fear for yours & your children's here…. tomorrow.

Chris
As a Canadian soldier who has been to Afghanistan (and Bosnia) I like to help people less fortunate than myself as much as the next guy. But yeah, as much as some people like to think we are there to help Afghan people and their rights, MY reason for supporting the Afghan mission, has evolved more to ensuring a more secure future for the WORLD and all FREE COUNTRIES. I won't go back to Afghanistan to try to help people who don't want my help, but I will go back to make sure the Afghan security forces are given every advantage to be able to police and secure their own country, so that the Taliban never again has power there. If they do, it will again become a safe haven and training ground for Terrorist enemies of the free world, who will do anything-including killing thousands of innocent people- just because they don't agree with our way of life.
Wake up people- FREEDOM ISN'T FREE! Sometimes we have to fight for what we believe in! And if we help Afghans and their rights in the mean time-bonus!

Anne
Did I not also read a story yesterday about a young couple being shot to death for eloping?? Women are not permitted to drive in Saudi Arabia either is that not correct? What about India where women are routinely killed or maimed for disobeying males in the family. So much of the human race is ignorant.

FreakAlert
What matters is that Afghanistan now has a central bank(IMF), implements and follows the Uniform Commercial Code, and export their natural resources at bankrupted prices. After all isn't that why NATO is really there?

Baker, Ottawa
Come on, people. There are 300+ women who DONT believe that this is a good or fair law. Who are not "indoctrinated". There are many many more who would have liked to protest but were afraid. And you advocate pulling troops out and leaving them all to be brutalized?
Yes, I want our boys and girls home, but God bless them for choosing to stand up for others.
The probability of failure is never an excuse for not trying.

Randyrocker
Time to get real and GET OUR TROOPS OUT NOW.

Henry
This is not about Westerners, this is about the equality between men and women. What if the law is applying to the men instead of the women. Would the men be happy?

B in Ottawa
To B. Kelley ref "We Christians smartened up a long time ago on this issue and so can the Muslims."

Christians (particularly Catholics) still have a lot of work to do in this area. I have yet to see any female priests. Catholisism still preaches that women should not use any form of birth control as it is a sin. I think this new afghan law is absolutely disgusting (and only one example of the MANY ways women are mistreated around the world) but let us not forget that we still have work to do ourselves before women in our own country have true equality. Men STILL to this day get paid more for doing the same job as a woman - just one such example of inequality here in Canada. This gap is narrowing but it still exists. Unfortunately, change does not occur over night.

Ma
I admire the bravery the 300 women showed to demonstrate their discontent for this proposed law. Hopefully more Afghans join the cause, the west supports you!

Georgie
After reading a story like this, I feel so grateful I live in Canada, the best country in the world. I wish every country would adapt a human rights policy like Canada's. I'll never understand religious zeal as long as I live.

Suzanne T (Lower Mainland)
Could someone please remind me why Canadian men and women are dying to support this backwater country with its incredible laws? Let's get the hell out and let them swallow in it!

Allan Eizinas
Democracy is the rule of majority opinion. Looks like we have been successful in Afghanistan - the majority of Shiites want Sharia as a religious and social template.

So what is the problem?

Doug BC
This troubling law will test the resolve of those who believe we can make a difference in Afghanistan.I do not believe we shoud "cut and run" on this issue at this precise time.Abandoning these women and children to the abuse of the Taliban is highly objectionable to me.
That said,if there comes a day when it become clear that there is no hope for real change,and real human rights for ALL the citizens in Afghanistan,I will be one of the first in line to advocate for a withdrawl of all NATO assistance.
We should ALL try to keep this issue on the front burner.We should not use it as a wedge issue.It is expremely important to get this right,so it should not be used as just another excuse to abandon a mission that you didn't support in the first place.While I am in complete agreement with those who say we will never impose a western stlye of democracy there,and that we shouldn't even try,I am not ready to believe we cannot move them a few steps closer to the 21st century.We cannot sit here pompously whining about human rights violations around the world if we are not prepared to do all we can to help those in distress.
"Shamaro" is right about the time it takes to change a nation.Before we make a difficult choice,I think we should give ALL the people in Afghanistan enough time to adjust,educate ALL of their people,and,make an informed decison for their own country.AFTER they know the benefits,and the consequences of that choice.I do not think most of them are informed or educated enough to do this right now.

Carolina from Oak Ridges
Let's get the hell out of there because it sounds like it is hell over there. Can't change a thing unless most people, women and men, want change. Bring them home, leave the Afganis alone.

a free woman
We have women soldiers dying there! Religious freedom should not be a right if it prohibits FREEDOM!
Whether a dictator, regime or religon, sanctifying any of these when they do not recognize the rights of all makes them no better then slave keepers!

Cambob
It was not that long ago that women were simple possessions here in Canada too.
There were struggles. There still are struggles here for a sense of equality.
Seriously folks, our outrage at this situation MUST be tempered with the fact that this struggle is global. Our soliders are NOT there to impose western morals. They are there to route out Al-Quaida and their supporters, the Taliban.
Think of it this way; If 4,000 Chinese soliders marched into Canada and demanded all women bow and follow 2 meters behind every man... how would YOU feel?

PS: I think this Islamoo/Muslim culture has horrifying customs, and if I could change them to suit me, I'd give it a try.

Linda in Vancouver
Doesn't anyone else think that the mere fact that there are women protesting in public and in Afghanistan is a sign that some people are seeing progress,and are not wanting to return to the ways of the Taliban?
Certainly they would not have done this a few years ago.To me,they look like a gutsy bunch.I congratulate them for having the courage to stand up and be counted.I expect NATO troops will appreciate it as well.
This is a small step for women there.But is is an important one,I think.A protest like this can embolden others to speak out on other issues.And,after all is said and done,aren't we there to help the people of Afghanistan gain a voice in organizing their won country,and writing their own laws.
Well done ladies.

Conservative Mike
Allan Eizinas:

The problem is the law violates the fundamental, human rights of women. We are not being ethnocentric in calling for this law's abolition. Human rights are universal and must be placed ahead of religion, cultural sanctity, and nationalism.

I like to think our troops are making the sacrifice in helping to protect fundamental human rights, and Canadians have every right to protest this law. Obviously a significant portion of Afghan women oppose it, and we need to support their voice, and condemn this ridiculous rock throwing nonsense.

Irregardless of their cultural and religious sanctity, this law (and the sexism and stoning that they are carrying out)demonstrates that the Shias supporting this law are thugs, who are NOT representing Islamic culture one iota.