KARZAI OFFERED FULL RIGHTS TO AFGHAN WOMEN
PARIS 15 Jan. (IPS) In a move that can be considered as both "extremely courageous and revolutionary", Afghanistan’s interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai is reported to have signed on 12 January a document securing full human rights for Afghan women.
Quoting the "Herald Sun", the Afghan News Network
reported Sunday that Mr. Karzai, a Poshtoon tribal leader, signed the document
during a meeting in Kabol with five activist women.
The event is of paramount importance as not only Afghan women's rights were totally suppressed under the rule of the Muslim puritanical Taleban, but also women in Islam religion have much less rights than men.
"This is extremely important because his signature puts on the record to his Cabinet and to all of Afghanistan in what direction the country will be going", said Mrs. Nasrine Gross, an Afghan-American women's rights advocate.
The Declaration of the Essential Rights of Afghan Women states they are entitled to "equality between men and women, equal protection under the law, institutional education in all disciplines, freedom of movement, freedom of speech and political participation and the right to wear or not wear the burqa or scarf", the document says, introducing for the first time a visible element of modernity in Islam, a religion that had not been reformed since it was born more than 1400 years ago.
"If implemented, Afghan women would be the first Muslim women to enjoy full equal rights with men as well as women in Western democracies", commented one Iranian human rights activist who asked for anonymity.
"For sure, it would definitively encourage Iranian women in fighting for their suppressed rights", she added.
The declaration concludes: "Afghan women affirm and demand for themselves the inalienable rights that had been assured by previous Constitutions of Afghanistan. This is essential for a durable, honourable and legitimate peace in a country whose women have experienced so much suffering".
"The signature of Karzai makes clear the direction of the authorities in our country, and we are so thankful for this," said Mrs. Shoukriah Haidar, president of Negar, a leading support group for Afghan women.
Gross, Haidar and a small delegation of women had been invited by Karzai to the presidential palace Sunday to meet US Senator Joseph Biden.
"Karzai invited about five women, including Gross and Haidar, into a private office and surprised them when he asked for a pen so he could sign the declaration", the Herald Sun reported. According to the women, Karzai told them that it was part of the Afghan tradition to give equal rights to women and it was also in keeping with the laws and spirit of Islam.
"This is a great moment for Afghan women", said Afghan-American women's rights activist Nasrine.
"The Phoenix is rising out of the ashes and it's a new day", she added.
Karzai said the 1964 Afghan constitution, which is being used as a model by Afghanistan's interim government, clearly gave women their rights.
Under this 38-year-old constitution, women held prominent jobs in Afghanistan as doctors, professors, lawyers and legislators.
But during the Taleban regime – from September 1996 through November 2001, Afghan women were not allowed to hold jobs – except in the medical profession, treating other women.
They were not allowed to go to school after age eight. Nor was a woman allowed to go out in public without being accompanied by a male family member. When she did, she was required to cover her face and body completely with the burqa – nine metres of cumbersome material.
As a result of the Taleban's oppression, women were forced out of schools and universities, had to give up their jobs and became prisoners in their own homes. Denied the right to work, thousands of widows became beggars. ENDS AFQAN WOMEN RIGHTS 15102