There you have it : “Women are secondary”

The stillborn democracy in Afghanistan under President Karzai is openly endorsing Sharia law, and voicing its support for the subjugation of women, as recently recommended and affirmed by the local Ulema Council. I don’t speak Dari, so I have to go with this attempt at translating the original text of the declaration.

The Ulema Council issued this statement last week, and in it these men recommend that men and women are not to mix in the workplace or schools, that women have to wear the hijab at all times, and that women must always be accompanied by a male when travelling. President Karzai is being quoted in support of this medieval outrage :

“In their [statement], they announced Islamic principles and values relating to the defense and reinforcement of women’s position. This [statement] is in accordance with a Shari’a view of our country, which all Muslims and Afghans are committed to.”

The declaration contains pearls like this one :

But, where a Muslim woman has many rights, [she also] has duties and obligations, such as:

Adherence, in faith and action, to the orders and prohibitions of Islam’s sacred Shariah

Complete adherence and observance of the hijab [according to the Shariah], which protects the dignity and personality of the woman

Avoiding mingling with stranger men in various social situations, such as education, shopping, the office and other affairs of life

In consideration of the clarity of verses 1 and 34 of Surah an-Nisa’ [of the Qur’an], men are fundamental and women are secondary;

also, lineage is derived from the man. Therefore, the use of words and expressions that contradict the sacred verses must be strictly avoided.

Respecting [the orders] about the multiplicity of wives (polygamy), which are in accordance with clear orders of the Qur’an

Avoiding travel without a [Shariah-sanctioned] mahram (male companion)

Adherence to the clear orders of Muhammad’s Shariah in case of divorce

There is speculation that Karzai’s support is aimed at appeasing the Taliban. I do note that there have been many Afghans who came out in defence of women’s rights on social media, as reported by the BBC here.

A lovely book, the Quran, isn’t it. Written by men for men. And 5000 dead soldiers down the track, the Afghan president is still bowing to the Neanderthals who aim to enforce this medieval shit on women with deadly conviction.

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