Last year, two New Zealand soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. So, what are they dying for? To the previous litany - corruption, torture, theocracy and spousal rape - we can add a new horror: forced marriage:
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pardoned a rape victim who was jailed for adultery, after she apparently agreed to marry her attacker.So, to get out of jail as punishment for being raped, she has to "agree" to a lifetime of it.A government statement said she agreed to the marriage, although her lawyer said she did not wish to marry him.
By propping up the Afghan government, we are helping to perpetuate this horror. I hope the SAS are really proud of themselves.
