There are plenty of things in this world that deserve to be re-thought, but the one at the top of my list today is the set of marital rules recently signed into law by in Afghanistan. One part of the law makes it illegal for a woman to resist the advances of her husband. The next part requires that if a woman wants to work or go to school outside of the home, she must obtain her husband's permission. And last, but not least, it is illegal for a woman to refuse to put on makeup or dress up for her husband if he asks for her to do so.
It's easy to laugh at the silliness and insubstantiality of the above ruling. However, I'm left wondering that if I were faced with the above image of hatred and ignorance, would I be so courageous as the women who stood their ground outside of the "School of the Last Prophet" madrasa while angry men are calling them "whores" and shouting, "Death to the enemies of Islam!"?
Fortunately, one of the madrasa's senior clerics was on hand to clarify their position. He said this was a dispute between "professionals" and "non-professionals," that is, between clerics who understand the Koran and women (who apparently do not).
I hope and pray that I would be standing beside these women, deliberately provocative, with my fist in the air and head held high.
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