New debate on Women rights in Afghanistan

KABUL (March 8, 2012): A regular monthly statement by top Afghan clerics has started debate over the rights of suppressed and ignored women in long-war affected Afghanistan. The Ulema Council, the religious scholars in their edict, issued on February 2, said Women are subordinate to men and they must not meet men at public places like offices, markets, educational institutes and others places. Some of the critics in inside the country called the proclamation as dangerous and against the Constitution of the country. The western media is portraying another picture and called the edict as “green light for Taliban.” However the President Hamid Karzai on February 6, defended the statement and said it was according to the principles of Islamic Law (Sharia).