What we're supporting in Afghanistan

Spousal rape and child marriage. Yes, really:

Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which "legalises" rape, women's groups and the United Nations warn. Critics claim the president helped rush the bill through parliament in a bid to appease Islamic fundamentalists ahead of elections in August.

In a massive blow for women's rights, the new Shia Family Law negates the need for sexual consent between married couples, tacitly approves child marriage and restricts a woman's right to leave the home, according to UN papers seen by The Independent.

We are propping up this government - a government which purports to legalise the abuse of women and children, and implements the gender slavery of Sharia law - with armed troops. It's long past time we stopped. Instead, the government has recently extended their deployment until 2010.

This raises the obvious question: how bad does Afghanistan's government have to get before we admit that it is not worth the life or time of a single New Zealander? With the US demanding a greater commitment to their war, it is a question we are going to have to answer - and soon.

[Hat tip: The Hand Mirror]