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New Law Puts Afghan Women at Risk for Domestic Violence

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Asia Life

New Law Puts Afghan Women at Risk for Domestic Violence

New legislation bans relatives of the accused from testifying against them.

New Law Puts Afghan Women at Risk for Domestic Violence
Credit: Flickr via DVIDSHUB

The Afghan parliament has passed legislation that bans relatives of an accused person from testifying against them, a move that human rights groups say will legalize domestic violence in a country where “honor killings” and forced marriage are practiced.

Under the new law, which is awaiting President Hamid Karzai’s signature, victims such as Sahar Gul, a former child bride who was abused by her in-laws, and Sitara, whose nose was sliced off by her former husband, would not be able to testify against their attackers.

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