Conservative Afghan lawmakers block legislation protecting women's rights

May 20, 2013

http://www.childrensrightsinstitute.org/246/conservative-afghan-lawmakers-block-legislation

KABUL, Afghanistan — Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.

The fierce opposition highlights how tenuous women's rights remain a dozen years after the ouster of the hard-line Taliban regime, whose strict interpretation of Islam once kept Afghan women virtual prisoners in their homes.