Afghanistan Rape 'Widespread': UN

The UN has said that Afghan law does not protect rape victims, according to the Daily Star.

The humanitarian organization also criticized communities which have repeatedly turned to traditional forms of justice which have attached shame upon the victim rather than focusing on the criminal.

The Daily Star quotes the UN's human rights rep in Afghanistan, Norah Niland, saying, "This is an issue that is under-reported and to a significant extent concealed, but it is a huge problem in Afghanistan."

The UN report states that rape is 'widespread' in Afghanistan, according to AFP.

IRIN says the UN reports that powerful individuals, who are immune to prosecution due to their positions of influence, have been linked to rapes.

"In some areas, alleged or convicted rapists are, or have links to, powerful commanders, members of illegal armed groups, or criminal gangs, as well as powerful individuals whose influence protects them from arrest and prosecution," IRIN quotes the UN report.

Comments

[SparkyAdams]

Yes, looks like it is.

[DenverJJ]

Radical Muslim are about the image of immorality, when it suits them and when no one is looking.
Maybe the best thing we could do is translate Roberts Rules of Order for them as it protects the minority views.
best,
DenverJJ

[S1m0n]

The huge number of rapes being committed by the warlords of what we later called the "Northern Alliance" were why the Taliban's ascent to power was welcomed by the people of southern Afghanistan.

[AKJM]

Arm the women. They can carry a small handgun hidden in all that fabric.

[ShaistaC]

These are the issues that I as a muslim woman feel strongly about. This is the type of situation that I feel warrants moral outrage all over the world, particularly the muslim world. I feel sad that the core woman's rights abuses in muslim counties are often overlooked by everyone while we argue about trivialities like whether wearing hijab in a western country means that you are subservient. Many countries have deep social issues that are abhorrent by Islamic and Western standards that stem from culture and tradition rather than religion. This is something that I hope all muslim women will stand up against.

[harriettubman]

And in the U.S. military too. What happened at the Air Force Academy was a travesty for years and now we hear about it happening in Iraq too!

[SparkyAdams]

Ooohh, it's so much worse for women of the AFA!

[davidwayneosedach]

It' their country. We are not going to change their customs and laws.

[The Ghost]

Not anymore.

[Gasparilla]

That doesn't mean you can't offer an opinion. I know people who are quick to attack religious fundamentalists in this country, and rightfully so, but they shut their mouths when it comes to talking about the repression carried out by other religions.

[HPdevotee]

What an insensitive comment!

The systematic ra.pe of children and women is a Human Rights violation and as such is subject to sanctions. Money talks...as well as the politically backing of its current power structure. By putting political and economical pressure where it can do some good we can effect the leaders/war lords.

What won't do any good...doi­ng nothing.

[lizr]

This comment is pending approval and won't be displayed until it is approved.

enough with all this po.cri.syi.sy about burq.uas and F GM as tradition.­. let's just admit there is a w.a.r on women and children in these places.

And the men who are the per.ps need to go to re education camp.

[jsgaetano]

I imagine Rumsfeld and the other conservatives would drone on about how this is a symbol of freedumb and duhmockracy etc etc.

[offred]

Remember too that there's widespread sexual abuse among Christian people as well (pedophile Catholic priests, fundamentalist Christian sects that sexually abuse women and children, etc.)

[HPdevotee]

Tragically, this is all too true.

One thing to notice among all these groups is the common thread of religiously sanctioned male superiorit­y/authorit­y. I would suggest that the violence against women and children is directly proportional to the degree of patriarchy practiced in a society/group. I would further suggest that the more burqas (pertaining to this article) one sees in a society/group will directly correlate to a higher statistical incidence of violence towards females specifically.

[fbr79]

I guess all tha burqa keeping them moral and decent doesn't keep them safe.

[SteadyOn]

There is a saying in Afghanistan that "girls are for babies" and "boys are for fun". There is a tradition of raping young boys; in fact, there is a term - bacha bazi. The Kite Runner was offensive to most Pashtuns because it is true.

[lizr]

enough with all this hypocrisy about burq.uas and F GM as tradition.­. let's just admit there is a w.a.r on women and children in these places.

And the men who are the per.ps need to go to re education camp.

[Paula Ann]

According to Islamic law, which the Taliban claim to live by, rapists are supposed to be executed.

[dillydawg]

Heartbreaking.

[Bearangaria]

So much for protecting the dignity of women by enshrouding them in a burga.
Allah weeps.

[CarmanK]

The men of Afghanistan who rape women and children are not worried about Allah!! And Allah judges their conduct. He does not weep,He will take vengence, in His own time. There is no justice in this life, so there has to be a God for justice to be served, sometime, some way.

[SparkyAdams]

Got bad news for ya: there is no after life.

Just a long nap in the dirt.

[realpolitic]

It shows how having to wear the burqa depersonalizes women. They are said to wear it for modesty and to not arouse men, but the very act of wearing it makes women anonymous people with little control over their lives or assertiveness. Men thus take advantage of their lowly status by brutalizing them and tossing them aside. Of course, the criminal justice system does not offer women recourse. The burqa should be discarded and put in a history museum.

[lizr]

thank you.

[Bearangaria]

I thank you too.

[PWM]

Just like the Bible - punish the victim.