BBC News: Afghan Women Jailed for "Bad Character"

Reading the BBC news this morning, I came across Lyse Douset's piece on the most popular crimes of Afghan women in jail, which is "Bad Character." The report then explains that approximately half of the women in jail did not commit crimes that require a prison sentence, yet due to the injustice against women, an innocent person is pronounced guilty. Moral crimes range from talking to a boy, leaving home to seek help from domestic violence (thought of as running away from the husband), and even bearing the child of her husband. While these could hardly be the women's fault, they are now marked black in the eyes of society.

This is injustice at its worst. The fact that society condones abuse of women rather than protection is evident in Afghanistan and shown in their treatment of women. Even with the courage to speak up for their innocence, there is an element of fear towering over those who are willing to make a stand for what is just. Not only in Afghanistan, but everywhere in the world, women are being devalued, objectified, suppressed, silenced and abused.

Sometimes, it might seem that we are so powerless in these situations, but looking back at how far we have come, I am proud of what women were able to achieve in the past century. Together, in love and unity, there is strength and courage as we walk towards the future we are longing for. Let us walk in one line and continue to stand for our sisters!

The BBC article/clip could be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8771605.stm