Afghanistan: 'Worse than the Taliban'

Senator Humaira Namati, a member of the upper house of the Afghan parliament, said the new law that has been signed by US-backed President Harzai Karzai was "worse than during the Taliban", the March 31 British Guardian said.

While the law, which was passed by the two houses of the Afghan parliament, is yet to be published, a briefing document prepared by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNDFW) said it included the legalisation of rape within marriage and bans married women from stepping outside their homes without their husband's permission.

They also require a husband's permission to visit a doctor and seek employment or education.

The UNDFW said the law granted custody of children only to fathers or grandfathers.

"Anyone who spoke out was accused of being against Islam", Namati said.

From GLW issue 790