Afghan President Hamid Karzai pardoned an Afghan woman serving a 12-year prison sentence for having sex out of wedlock after she was raped by a cousin. A judge had earlier offered to release her if she agreed to marry the rapist, but she refused.
The woman's story was highlighted in a European Union documentary on Afghan women jailed for so-called "moral crimes." However, the European Union blocked release of the film because of fears the women featured in the film would be in danger if it were shown.
Even though the documentary film was blocked, the Afghan woman's case drew international attention to the plight of many Afghan women 10 years after the overthrow of the Taliban. Half of the women in Afghan jails are victims of rape or domestic violence.
The woman's attack (and crime) was only brought to light because of the resultant pregnancy. She had the baby in prison and began raising her in prison, which is common for women inprisoned in Afghanistan.
More than 5,000 people recently signed a petition urging Afghan President Karzai to release the woman.
On Thursday, Karzai's office said in a statement that Karzai had agreed to pardon the 21-year-old woman. Initial reports were that the pardon was based on the woman finally agreeing to marry her attacker. Today, however, the woman's attorney stated that the woman would not have to marry her attacker as a condition to being freed.
The woman's story was highlighted in a European Union documentary on Afghan women jailed for so-called "moral crimes." However, the European Union blocked release of the film because of fears the women featured in the film would be in danger if it were shown.
Even though the documentary film was blocked, the Afghan woman's case drew international attention to the plight of many Afghan women 10 years after the overthrow of the Taliban. Half of the women in Afghan jails are victims of rape or domestic violence.
The woman's attack (and crime) was only brought to light because of the resultant pregnancy. She had the baby in prison and began raising her in prison, which is common for women inprisoned in Afghanistan.
More than 5,000 people recently signed a petition urging Afghan President Karzai to release the woman.
On Thursday, Karzai's office said in a statement that Karzai had agreed to pardon the 21-year-old woman. Initial reports were that the pardon was based on the woman finally agreeing to marry her attacker. Today, however, the woman's attorney stated that the woman would not have to marry her attacker as a condition to being freed.
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