Anger as Afghan MPs halt women's bill debate

The Afghan parliament today cut short a debate on a bill to protect women from violence after complaints from some traditionalist MPs that it was against Islamic teaching.
The Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) law, which was passed by a presidential decree in 2009, is seen as a benchmark piece of legislation marking progress since the fall of the Taliban regime nearly 12 years ago.
But ratification by parliament was postponed after several MPs branded the bill as against Sharia law -- the Islamic teachings drawn from the Koran, the Prophet Mohammad and rulings by scholars.
"This law is just a government project, it is against Sharia... We need to discuss more about this and remove articles that are against Islam," Abdul Sattar Khawasi, a conservative MP from Parwan province, said.

In a rowdy debate, some male lawmakers shouted out that child marriage -- made illegal by the bill -- should not be a crime.
But there were also strong supporters of the law during today's curtailed session in parliament.

"This bill was signed into effect after enormous efforts by women, this law is to defend the rights of poor women in towns and villages," Takhar province MP Mariam Kofi said.
"We are hopeful of getting it passed finally. If it is not passed, it would be a disaster to all Afghan women.... For us it is signed by president and it is a law already." she said.

Aimal Faizi, President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, told reporters that Karzai would not interfere in parliamentary affairs but suggested that the palace was working to boost support for the bill.
"It is up to them to pass it or not to pass it, but the president has recently met with representatives of women and civil society,' Faizi said.
"They have discussed these concerns that the women have in regard to this bill and what kind of support we can get from within the parliament."
The Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) bill is already officially law, but many women's rights activists fear that conservative MPs could water it down by insisting on amendments, or even try to throw it out completely.

"We did not want this law to go to parliament. But unfortunately it happened," Mahbooba Seraj, an activist, told AFP.
"Afghan women have fought for years to make this law. If parliament changes it, women will go ten years backwards and they will have to restart their fight."
The law bans violence against women, child marriages and forced marriages, and is considered one of the government's key achievements since the fall of the Taliban, which banned women from attending school or any form of public activity.