Protest in Europe and Australia Against the “Rape Law”

Hazaras across Europe protested against Shia Family Law

London, April 25 2009 — Hazara diaspora living across Europe and Australia organized a protest against Afghanistan’s Shiite Family Law that restricts women’s rights and legalizes marital rape.

Hundreds of Hazara men and women across Europe took to the streets to express disapproval of the bill drafted by a controversial cleric backed by Iran. The bill was signed into law by Karzai a month ago.

The protesters in London, Oslo, Sydney, Munich, Viena and Rome strongly criticized the law, saying it is against the culture and traditions of Hazaras.

Speakers in Oslo, London and Sydney said the law is against human rights and must be repealed. A speaker in Oslo said, “The fascist dictator Abdul Rehman, ruling from 1880 to 1940, officially sanctioned the trading of Hazara women as slaves. The tyrant ruler’s Government determined prices for Hazara women slaves. When he invaded Hazarajat, women were mass raped.”

She added that the same history is being repeated today by new faces.

“We will never allow such clerics to exploit the dignity and liberty of Hazara women through their bogus and so-called Islamic Laws,” she added.

Photos of the prorests:

Photos courtesy of Manji Oslo and BBC Persian.