SNP MSP for Central Scotland, Christina McKelvie has called on the UK Government to take all action possible to prevent the implementation of measures which would fundamentally undermine the human rights of women in Afghanistan.

This call comes as it was reported today (Saturday) the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, had expressed his own concern to Afghan Presdient Hamid Karzai over the Shia family law bill currently before the AfghanParliament, which would see rape legalised within marriage.

Ms McKelvie lodged a motion before the Scottish Parliament last Wednesday condemning the Afghan bill.

Commenting, Ms McKelvie said:
“This law is an attack on the fundamental rights of Afghan women.

“To allow its implementation is to legalise domestic abuse.

“President Karzai has given assurances that a review is underway. I am calling on the UK Government to ensure that these words translate into action and repeal all legislation that violates the human rights of women and children.

“Progress has been made in Afghanistan but I fear recent developments represent a return to the darkest days of the Taliban.”

The text of Ms McKelvie’s motion reads:

S3M-03857 Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (Scottish National Party):
Defend Afghan Women’s Human Rights— That the Parliament expresses deep concern at news reports that President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has recently signed into law a Shia family law bill that is believed to deny the most basic human rights to Afghan women, including the right to refuse sex within marriage, to leave their homes without permission from a husband or father or to seek custody of their children following divorce; recalls that the denial of human rights to Afghan women by the Taliban was cited as a justification for the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001; believes that those countries involved in military action in Afghanistan then and since have a duty to protect Afghan women’s rights; calls on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office to establish urgently exactly what provisions are contained in the Shia family law and to place diplomatic pressure on President Karzai to repeal all legislation that violates the human rights of women and children, and urges the UK Government to condemn in the strongest possible terms these latest attacks on the basic humanity of Afghan women and to exhort its international partners to do the same.