Violence erupted today during a protest of a law passed last month in Afghanistan that has several affects, one of which is regulating when and why a wife may leave her home alone. But the more controversial portion of the law, which many say constitutes marital rape, states that a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse.
On Wednesday, women's rights advocates scheduled a protest in Kabul, the country's capital. Most of the protesters were young women. However, they were pelted with rocks and shouted down by counter-protesters, who approve of the law, and those included both men and women.
There were, according to reports, approximately 300 protesters, but 1,000 counter-protesters.
Supporters of the law say it gives women more rights through precise definition. But protester Sima Ghani, told the BBC:
"We actually see it as a law that is limiting women's rights... We all stand against this law, we want a reform of the law, we want a revisit of it and overturn of it."
Other protesters shouted:
"We don't want a Taliban law, we want a democratic law and we want a law that guarantees human dignity."
Counter-protesters said:
"Opposing this law is opposing Islam, the religion and the constitution."
"We are Muslims and we want our law based on our religious beliefs."
The law covers members of Afghanistan's Shia minority, and a separate family law for the Sunni majority is also being drawn up.
President Hamid Karzai signed the law into effect, but he has called for quick review after global criticism erupted.
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