Hundreds of Afghan women lead protest against Taliban, corruption, Karzai and U.S war escalation !

[Better Believe It]

Hundreds of women lead protest in Afghanistan
By Tony Perry
December 10, 2009

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan - Several hundred women, many holding aloft pictures of relatives killed by drug lords or Taliban militants, held a loud but nonviolent street protest today, demanding that President Hamid Karzai purge from his government anyone connected to corruption, war crimes or the Taliban.

"These women are being very brave," said the protest leader, her face hidden by a burka. "To be a woman in Afghanistan and an activist can mean death. We want justice for our loved ones!"

The protest group, under the banner Social Assn. of Afghan Justice Seekers, said that "our people have gone into a nightmare of unbelieving" because of the disputed election and the fact that "the culture of impunity" still exists despite Karzai's vow to eliminate it.

While the women took the lead in the protest, about 500 men followed them in support, an unusual display in Afghan culture of men allowing women to take a leadership role.

Although it was not a major focus of the protest, the group was also critical of President Obama's decision to send additional troops.

"The innocent and oppressed people will be the victims of American air and ground attacks," said the group's statement handed to Afghan and U.S. reporters.


Several hundred women, many carrying pictures of relatives they said were killed by Taliban militants or drug lords, took to the streets of Kabul to demand that President Hamid Karzai purge from his government anyone connected to the killing of Afghans.

Read the full article at:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-fg-afghanistan-protest11-2009dec11,0,320839.story

[demosincebirth]

1. I admire women who have the guts to stand up for what they believe, especially

in Afghanistan. But, to be credible they have to remove those Burkas, which is a sign of their oppression.

[Better Believe It]

3. Some wore a Burka and some didn't. The "protest leader" wore a Burka perhaps to hide her identity

[demosincebirth]

13. Perhaps, But, why aren't all hiding their faces?

[noamnety]

10. I'm not sure a woman in Afghanistan

needs to abide by the opinions of a dude living in California telling them what is or isn't a credible form of protest in their circumstances.

[liberal_at_heart]

2. good for them.

[anonymous171]

4. It's for your own good ladies! Freedom isn't free.

:sarcasm:

[Better Believe It]

5. Ignore them! What do they know? We're spreadin freedom and stuff!

[YouTakeTheSkyway]

6. Should I ignore the fact that these types of protests wouldn't be tolerated

were the Taliban to assume control?

[NNN0LHI]

9. Try ignoring this

http://www.lfpress.com/news/world/2009/12/09/12089106-sun.html

Soldiers fire during protest

Last Updated: 9th December 2009, 4:07am

KABUL -- Afghan troops fired on protesters in eastern Afghanistan yesterday, killing two people and wounding a third at a demonstration sparked by reports of civilian deaths in a NATO-led operation, a provincial official said.

NATO said no civilians had died in its raid in Laghman province, northeast of Kabul, saying its forces had killed seven militants and arrested four.

The Afghan soldiers shot at a crowd of villagers protesting against the attack, which President Hamid Karzai's office said killed six civilians, including one woman.

"Three people were shot. One died on the spot, one died in hospital, one is in a coma," the acting head of Laghman's provincial council, Gulzar Sangarwal, said of the demonstrations.

Sangarwal said 13 civilians were killed in the pre-dawn raid by NATO-led forces in Armul village. The villagers took to the streets to march and chant slogans against the provincial governor, Karzai and foreign troops in Afghanistan, when Afghan troops opened fire.

[noamnety]

11. We've opened fire on peaceful protests in Iraq. (nt)

[Matariki]

7. "The innocent and oppressed people will be the victims of American air and ground attacks,"

This time it's going to be different. Right?

[Echo In Light]

8. K&R

[earth mom]

12. Well there goes the argument that Afghan women want the U.S. there. nt