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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (39055)	3/8/2004 3:10:07 PM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

Compromise, Afghani style. Women should vote … as instructed: Karzai Afghan president says men should let women vote, but tell them who to vote for Move is an attempt at compromise KABUL (CP) - Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered Afghan men a trade today in an attempt to convince them to let their women vote in upcoming elections. "Please, my dear brothers, let your wives and sisters go to the voter registration process," Karzai told a gathering to mark International Women's Day. "Later, you can control who she votes for, but please, let her go." Karzai's plea set off a murmur in the crowd of about 500 women and illustrated the fragile grip the democratic process holds in Afghanistan. "Now that is a bad idea," said Simi Nakbari, a teacher and mother whose husband reluctantly allowed her to attend the meeting. "It doesn't seem like a very good interpretation of the rights we are working for. We can select which minister or warlord to vote for as well as anyone." Karzai's words also showed the fragile state of women's rights in Afghanistan. Two years after the Taliban fell, ending laws that banned women from working or going to school, many women in Kabul have noticed drastic and subtle improvements in their lives. But women in more conservative rural areas are confined to their homes or are forced to wear the burkha, a robe that covers a woman's face and body. Recently, girls' schools have been set ablaze and women have set themselves on fire in acts of desperation. Human rights groups have suggested the abuse of women may be worse in some areas where rogue militias have replaced the Taliban. Women suffer from poor health care. Afghanistan has one of the highest death rates for mothers giving birth. In one province, 6,500 women out of 100,000 die giving birth. In Canada the figure is fewer than five in 100,000. Karzai condemned the practice of forced marriages, where girls and young women become bargaining chips to settle disputes and often end up married to old men. "The mullahs in the villages and provinces need to explain to the people that it is not right, and it is against our religion," he said. A constitution adopted in January declares women equal to men, promises women 20 per cent of the seats in the future legislature, and calls for elections in June. Only about 1.3 million of Afghanistan's 10 million eligible voters have registered. About 27 per cent of those who have signed up are women. Zerghouna Gig, a mother of four from rural Wardak province, said constitutional ideals of equality between men and women are not reaching the regions outside of Kabul. "They talk about their wishes, but it all starts at home," said Gig, whose husband, a military doctor, only allowed her to attend the conference after pressure from his superiors. "Not much has happened yet, but I think whatever freedom we get, we will have to get for ourselves." In Kabul, the situation is better, particularly for educated or professional women who were not allowed out of the home during the Taliban years. Some benefits have also trickled down to women in more traditional roles. Hamida Shaheed, a middle-aged housewife, notes that she can travel to the market without fear of being beaten. She recalled a time when Taliban enforcers searched her home for a hidden television. They beat her husband and son and put them in jail for a night "Now we can have entertainment without fear," said Shaheed, who plans to vote in elections later this year. "I would say about 70 per cent of the women in this city have been freed on some level." Sahib Jan, 52, a servant, peeled off their her burkha shortly after the Taliban fell, as did about half of the women on the streets of Kabul. "It was like being in a cage, it was dangerous in traffic," said Jan. "But I didn't wear it often because during the Taliban I was barely allowed to go outside." Now Jan's three grandchildren are in school and she is confident life will be better for them. "It's already better now, so I think education can only make it better." thestar.com lurqer