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WASHINGTON-As first lady, senator and then Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton was vocal in her fight for the rights of women in Afghanistan.But, as President Obama's secretary of state, Clinton now finds herself in the uncomfortable position of watching as the U.S.-backed Afghan president signs a law that critics say gives Shiite men the right to rape their wives.International criticism pressure forced President Hamid Karzai to say Saturday that the law is under review, and he has spoken to Clinton about it.The developments come as Obama seeks NATO support in Europe for his plan to ramp up the war against terrorists in Afghanistan.Back at home in Washington, administration officials have struggled this week with how to respond to Karzai's signing of the so-called Shia Family Law without debate in the Afghan parliament. The law's most controversial provisions address sexual intercourse in marriage."As long as the husband is not traveling, he has the right to have sexual intercourse with his wife every fourth night," Article 132 of the law says."Unless the wife is ill or has any kind of illness that intercourse could aggravate, the wife is bound to give a positive response to the sexual desires of her husband."Such a law runs contrary to the stated goals of the U.S. mission in Afghanistan-to pursue human rights and to help liberate women from religious oppression.It is a cause that has been championed by previous administrations, and particularly by previous first ladies.The details of the law surfaced this week, just days after one of those former first ladies, Clinton, told the International Conference on Afghanistan at The Hague, Netherlands: "Women's rights are a central part of American foreign policy in the Obama administration; they are not marginal; they are not an add-on or an afterthought."State Department spokesman Robert Wood said Thursday that officials were "reviewing the legislation." He suggested that its legality might be in question."We urge President Karzai to review the law's legal status to correct provisions of the law that...limit or restrict women's rights," Wood said. He added that "President Karzai is well aware of our views with regard to this legislation."Karzai said Saturday that "measures will be taken," though it is unclear what changes, if any, he has in mind. He said he hadn't seen "any problems" with the law when he previously studied it.Afghanistan's constitution, which was passed in 2004, calls for equal rights for all men and women.The Associated Press and State Department producer Nina Donaghy contributed to this report.
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
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