A Closer Look at Afghanistan’s Controversial Shia Law

From Lauryn Oates...

In March 2009, news of the Shiite Personal Status Law reached international leaders gathered in London for the G20 conference, which included many donor nations to Afghanistan. A handful of the law’s 249 articles included restrictions on the rights of Afghan Shia women, and the issue exploded in the international press, galvanising heated responses from a variety of stakeholders.

An AREU study has sought to examine another angle of this story: the inception, preparation and parliamentary passage of the law. The aim has been to identify what this experience can illustrate about lawmaking in post-Bonn Afghanistan, and the political culture and capacity surrounding it. Respondents included MPs, Shia academics, civil society representatives, Shia women who demonstration against the law, a Supreme Court judge, and representatives of independent media outlets, the international community, and the Ministry of Justice.

The resulting report, A Closer Look — The Policy and Law-Making Process Behind the Shiite Personal Status Law, identifies a number of important irregularities in procedure, including that the final law was not formally passed by Afghanistan’s lower house of parliament, and notes that public inclusion was missing from the process. It also delivers a number of recommendations for improving procedures and better enforcing parliamentary rules, facilitating a peaceful pluralism in matters of fiqh (jurisprudence), and reforming Afghanistan’s single non transferable vote and political party systems.

The report is available for download at www.areu.org.af and will be available in hardcopy from the AREU office.

The report’s author Lauryn Oates is available for telephone interviews (English), as is a member of the research team (Dari). Representatives of the media seeking more information are encouraged to contact:

Jay Lamey, AREU Communication Editor: jay@areu.org.af or tel. 0795462011


The Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit (AREU) is an independent research organisation based in Kabul. AREU ’ s mission is to conduct high-quality research that informs and influences policy and practice. AREU also actively promotes a culture of research and learning by strengthening analytical capacity in Afghanistan and facilitating reflection and debate. Fundamental to AREU ’ s vision is that its work should improve Afghan lives .

www.areu.org.af / +93 (0) 799 608 548 / areu@areu.org.af

Beyond the Bike

As we set out yesterday with the rain pounding down on us, the wind in our faces and our shoes filled with water, I had a huge smile.

Everyone arrived at our home in Needham as individuals but we set out as a group. Our community was built as each new rider arrived and tried to cram into the garage. Strangers quickly became friends, “should I wear long pants or shorts? Do you have an extra set of gloves? Have you ever ridden in the rain before?” – we were quickly bonding. After the kids played the Star Spangled Banner (twice), the energy of the room shifted again. Pride. Pride in ourselves. Pride in our country. Pride in knowing that with each rain drop falling on us, we were one step closer to our goal of raising $50,000 for the construction of the Dragon Valley Women’s Community Center in Bamiyan Afghanistan.

As we rolled away from the house with 62 wet miles ahead of us, we stuck together and worked as a group. We helped each other with flat tires, we pointed out sharp turns and Bs along the route and we rode at whatever pace meant that no one had to ride alone. This feeling of community of being a part of something larger than ourselves is the same thing that I hope for for the women in Afghanistan.

The Community Center is nearing completion. In just about 6 weeks, women will have an opportunity to come together in a safe, warm place where they will have access to clean water to do their laundry, a tearoom where they will be able to socialize, classrooms for programs that teach new skills and a community garden where they can grow food. Our hope is that this building will be more than bricks and mortar. We hope that it will be a life changing community with a soul.

So thank you for the energy you brought to the day. Thank you to ALL of the volunteers that helped to make the day go so smoothly. Thank you for the donations you made and for the fundraising dollars you brought in. And thank you for your continued support.

I hope you are excited for 2010 back here in Needham and then 2011 – from NYC back to Boston…

Peace,
Susan