Pres. Karzai to Review Afghanistan Law Infringing Women's Rights

April 4, 2009: Carlotta Gall from the New York Times reports that Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai plans to review recently enacted legislation intended to curb women's rights:

"A Shiite woman would be allowed to leave home only “for a legitimate purpose,” which the law does not define. The law also says, “Unless the wife is ill, the wife is bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband.” Critics have said that provision legalizes marital rape. The law also outlines rules on divorce, child custody and marriage, all in ways that discriminate against women, said Soraya Sobhrang, commissioner for women’s rights at the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission."

link to article