The Afghan parliament yesterday cut off debate on a bill to protect women from violence after complaints from some traditionalist MPs that it was against Muslim teaching.The Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) law, which was passed by a presidential decree in 2009, is seen as a landmark piece of legislation demonstrating progress since the fall of the Taliban. But ratification was postponed after several MPs said the bill was against sharia law.
Abdul Sattar Khawasi, a conservative MP from Parwan province, said, "This law is just a government project, it is against sharia... we need to discuss more about this and remove articles that are against Islam."
During a boisterous debate, some lawmakers shouted that child marriage, made illegal by the bill, should not be a crime. However, there were also strong supporters of the law during yesterday's curtailed session in parliament.
Takhar province MP Mariam Kofi said, "This bill was signed into effect after enormous efforts by women, this law is to defend the rights of poor women in towns and villages. We are hopeful of getting it passed finally. If it is not passed, it would be a disaster to all Afghan women.... For us it is signed by president and it is a law already."
President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Aimal Faizi, told reporters that Karzai would not interfere in parliamentary affairs but suggested that the palace was trying to boost support for the bill.
He said, "It is up to them to pass it or not to pass it, but the president has recently met with representatives of women and civil society. They have discussed these concerns that the women have in regard to this bill and what kind of support we can get from within the parliament."
The Elimination of Violence against Women (EVAW) bill is already officially law, but many women's rights supporters fear that conservative MPs could insist on adding amendments, or even try to throw it out completely.