Hi Katy,
I was looking at PerezHilton (guilty pleasure!) and an article was posted about a journalism student who was sentenced to prison for asking questions about 'women's rights under Islam.' Thought you may find it interesting!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27297183/
(Follow links back, as well, for coverage of a claim of torture.)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Student journalist jailed
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5 comments:
Ever heard of cultural relativism? We shouldn't judge the beliefs of this culture. The student allegedly broke the law. If so, he has to pay the consequences.
cultural relativism? Basic human rights should not vary across cultures. Women in the Middle East are oppressed and a male student had the courage to question the system. The harsh punishment he received shows how hell bent Afghanistan's government is on keeping it that way.
I understand the concept of cultural relativism... but I agree with Annie on the importance of basic human rights. I don't agree with the Islam treatment of women or their intolerance for the freedom of ideas. You can't use the excuse of cultural relativism to say the treatment of those in Darfur is appropriate.
Our country has been fighting for our own human rights for centuries. Founding citizens were wrongly imprisoned, hung in effigy and killed for us to get the rights we have today. It's a shame that there are countries where these things still occur with no sign of positive change.
Looking from my point of view, this is absolutely ridiculous. It's like we are not allowed to learn and explore. He was questioning a society and how things run. He was expressing his opinion and now, what, he's getting 20 years in jail. However, I am not in their culture, so he may be breaking the law. I would like to see that law in writing.
I think the only way women in the middle east will gain rights is through situations like this. As unfair and unjust it is- this article distributed worldwide will hopefully go a long way in building criticism for the Afghan system and pressure groups into making a change.
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