During Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga council to frame a new Constitution, chairman Sebaghatullah Mojadeddi, who has been described as a “moderate jihadi,” aroused the ire of female delegates by reminding them of Qur’anic and Sharia provisions that discriminate against women.
According to the New York Times: “Don’t try to put yourself on a level with men, he told the women. Even God has not given you equal rights, he added, because under his decision two women are counted as equal to one man. He was referring to a provision of Islamic law, itself displeasing to many women, that says that the testimony of two women is equivalent to that of one man in some cases. He did not bother to couch the sentiment in a legal context, presenting it instead as a general principle.”
Said Rangina Hamidi of Afghans for Civil Society: “We all are kind of not only in shock, but also surprised that he said it. . . . For him to sit in a gathering of this importance, knowing the past history of women, the suffering. . . . It was uncalled for.”
But what else could he say if Islam is going to be the foundation of a new Afghan government? Not only is the Sharia incompatible with equality of rights for women, but if Mojadeddi is consistent he will also declare that Allah has not given equality of rights to non-Muslims in Islamic societies either. As the cause of Sharia advances in Europe, this is something that everyone who believes in the equality of rights for all should note carefully. (Thanks to nicolei.)