Public Comment

In Kabul, Afghanistan, young girls are under severe restrictions denied a secondary education and are constantly monitored by heavily armed, ruthless religious police and are harshly punished for the slightest infractions. 

The Taliban provide few explanations for their ruthless treatment of women and for their blatant partiality to boys. They justify their actions claiming they are merely following Sharia Law which initially obtained passages for the express purpose of protecting women as they made long journeys in the desert, - hence the edicts of wearing burkas and insisting on male guardianships. Sadly, the Taliban and other leaders in the Islamic world are trapped in a time warp and insist on adhering to these ancient customs which are severely oppressing women.  

Islam is full of contradictions and, like many other religions, needs to be updated with a uniform set of rules to ensure complete gender equality and not relegate women to become baby bearing machines. Harsh admonitions should be purged. For example, stoning of women for adultery, and polygamy should be banished. Although a recent fatwa, denies adultery is appropriate grounds for stoning adulterers is an apostasy. 

Women must be accorded complete equality in inheritance rights and divorce property settlements. Body coverings should be banished as this acts as a serious impediment to smooth integration into western countries and is an archaic law dating back to desert travel. The current law demanding girls be accompanied by a male guardian is another archaic law dating back to the early days of Islam, to protect the molestation of women. 

Few of the world religions, including Islam, can lay claim to fostering peace, justice and harmony. Finally, it is time radical Islam put down their guns and liberate their most cherished asset, their girls and women. This simple but transformative action would ignite the whole of the Islamic world for the good. No longer would Islam be feared but admired and emulated.