By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

KABUL, Afghanistan – A new version of Afghan marriage law no longer requires a wife to submit to sex with her husband, only that she perform certain housework.  The original law required the wife to submit to the husband’s sexual advances every four days.  This sex clause was met with international condemnation for appearing to legalize marital rape.

This marriage law applies only to the minority Shiite Muslims in Afghanistan, and the 10% Shiite minority is allowed to settle family affairs under their own jurisprudence under the Afghan Constitution.  Nevertheless, the critics considered the law as a return to the old Taliban-era rules when the Afghan government is supposed to be promoting democracy and human rights.

The United Nations released a statement saying, “The United Nations has had concerns about parts of the law that do not conform with international law, particularly in regard[s] to the rights of women.”

Afghan Shiite women protesting the original marriage law (Source: AP)

The revised law now says the wife need only do housework that the couple agreed at the time of their marriage, and the clause requiring the women to obtain her husband’s permission to leave the house and the sex clause have been deleted.

The new draft appears to give women more freedom, stating that a woman is the “owner of her property and can use her property without the permission of her husband.”  However, although the new draft may be seen as a move towards better protection of women’s rights, many activists argue that the government has not done enough to make a significant change in the women’s daily lives. 

Women’s advocate Shukria Barakzai said, “We need a change in customs, and this is just on paper.  What is being practiced every day, in Kabul even, is worse than the laws.”  She remained skeptical as to how much change the new law will bring to the women’s lives, adding, “Still there are forced marriages and child marriages…and the lack of access to divorce.”

Although the revised law is likely to be approved, it is unclear how long it will take the parliament to take up the draft since the legislature is in recess for the next two weeks.

For more information, please see:

The Huffington Post – Afghan Marriage Law No Longer Legalizes Rape – 9 July 2009

MSNBC – Afghanistan revises contentious marriage law – 9 July 2009

Telegraph – Afghanistan revises marriage law but women still required to submit to sexual intercourse – 9 July 2009

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

 

 

North Korea – After weeks of no news, the sister of one of the American journalists imprisoned in North Korea finally received word. Lisa Ling, a CNN contributor, said, “It was only the first time I had heard her voice in weeks… I was so relieved but I feel so helpless…It’s just difficult to know I cannot do anything to bring her home.”

Lisa Ling’s sister, Laura Ling, and Euna Lee, both journalists, were sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of illegally entering the country to conduct a smear campaign. “I know that our government has been working behind the scenes very hard trying to bring the girls back home… but our countries don’t talk, and perhaps this could be a reason,” said Lisa Ling, hoping the recent arrest will encourage dialogue between the US and North Korea.

Ling said that without being able to look at her sister, it was difficult to discern her state. She said her sister was “very specific about the message that she was communicating, and she said, ‘Look, we violated North Korean law and we need our government to help us. We are sorry about everything that has happened, but we need diplomacy.’”

Both, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, former reporters for California-based Current TV, were arrested while reporting on the border between North Korea and China. North Korea’s state media released a report last month explaining how the two American journalists had illegally entered the country to record material for a “smear campaign” against the North Korean government. Ever since, the US has intervened trying to secure the release of the two journalists on humanitarian grounds.

A former North Korean prisoner, Kang Chol-Hwan, is also speaking out about the condition of North Korea’s “concentration camps.” Chol-Hwan has painted a bleak picture of chaos and violence in the camps and is hoping the American journalists obtain a speedy release. Chol-Hwan was sent to the camp because North Korea’s former leader, Kim Il Sung, thought Chol-Hwan’s grandfather was a traitor.

Chol-Hwan, now a journalist, is speaking out in part to expedite Laura Ling and Euna Lee’s freedom. Although he did add that he is convinced that the North Korea’s communist regime is treating both women well.

 

 

CBS – Lisa Ling Pushes for Sister’s Release – July 8, 2009

CNN – Sister Hears from Journalist Trapped in N. Korea – July 8, 2009

VOA News – Former North Korean Prisoner Speaks Out – July 8, 2009

 

 

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

LAHORE, Pakistan – Violence against Pakistani women has increased in the past few months.  According to one report, more than 220 women were burned between April and June of this year, leading to the deaths of 40 women in Punjab.  The report also stated that while attacks against women are increasing, the assailants are enjoying impunity.

Although the attacks are not limited to a certain region of Pakistan, the hotspot for these inhumane attacks in the recent years has been Punjab.  Pakistani women who suffer acid burns appear to be those who have broken a social code or “honor,” for example, refusing to marry the man her family has chosen or for running away from unhappy marriages as well as being seen in public with an unrelated man.

Nisha Varia at Human Rights Watch said, “Violence against women in Pakistan is endemic…there are very high rates of domestic violence and incidents like acid attacks.”

Sabira Sultana was burnt by gasoline by her husband (Source: AP)

In an acid attack, acid is thrown onto the face and other body parts of the women.  Such an attack causes severe pain and bodily mutilation, but is commonly practiced in South Asia.  Varia also attributed the frequency of acid attacks to the fact that acid in readily available in Pakistan.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said there is a great need to foster awareness among the victims to fight for justice so that the culprits are held responsible.  In many cases, even when the attack results in the death of the woman, her family often does not press charges, let alone report the crime.

Although the society does not consider burning women a crime, there is a movement demanding that burn attack cases be registered under the Pakistan Penal Code so that assailants can be found responsible for burning another human being.

Pakistani officials estimated that more than 150 women are burned each year with acid or kerosene, and the actual number of victims is probably much higher.  Luckily a local entrepreneur is raising money for reconstructive surgeries by hiring the victims to work at beauty salons.

For more information, please see:

CTV News – Pakistani charity helps acid-burn victims – 5 July 2009

Daily Times – Female Burn victims require government attention: AGHS – 4 July 2009

The Jerusalem Post – Women in Pakistan face wave of burn attacks – 6 July 2009

 

 

By Alishba I. Kassim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia

GENEVA, Switzerland – UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has been leading international calls to encourage restraint in China in the face of the recent riots. The riots in China’s Xinjiang region have killed at least 140 people. The violence erupted as China’s leader started a visit to Italy ahead of the Group of Eight industrialized powers summit.

Chinese state media reported that thousands of people fought with police and set fires to vehicles in the city of Urumqi. Uighur Muslims, native to the region, have rejected Beijing’s accusations that they organized the riots.

“Wherever it is happening or has happened the position of the United Nations and the secretary general has been consistent and clear: that all the differences of opinion, whether domestic or international, must be resolved peacefully through dialogue,” the UN chief told the press speaking about the riots in Xinjiang. He further added that “Governments concerned must also exercise extreme care and take necessary measures to protect the life and safety of the civilian population and their citizens and their properties, and protect freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of information.”

Italy’s President, Giorgio Napolitano raised the issue of human rights to China’s President, Hu Jintao. “We agreed that the…economic and social progress that is being achieved in China places new demands in terms of human rights,” Napolitano said at a news conference with the Chinese President. Britain also joined Italy’s President in urging China to show restraint.

The violence involved thousands of people in Xinjiang, home to ethnic Muslim Uighurs, who have long complained of repressive Chinese rule.

By Hyo-Jin Paik
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia