Desperate Afghan Women Opt for Fiery Suicides

Reuters ^ | April 23, 2004 | David Brunnstrom

[prairiebreeze]

This seems to be particularly prevelant in Herat.

[valkyrieanne]

There are probably still Kalishnikovs all over that country - why not pick one up and declare a personal self-defense jihad against an abusive husband?

[prairiebreeze]

I have a suspicion that claiming self-defense for a woman doesn't carry much water in Islamic court.

Prairie

[Austin Willard Wright]

I thought that we had brought the rule of law and democracy to Afghanistan! Another nation-building failure. So what else is new.

[Pikachu_Dad]

No, but if they declare Jihad...

[DCPatriot]

"...Another nation-building failure. So what else is new."

Uh, they burned women as witches in Salem, Massachusetts at one point in OUR history.

One generation or two is but a blink of an eye in terms of time and long-term successful results.

[trek]

The islamo-fascist version of a woman's right to choose.

[theFIRMbss]

>Uh, they burned women as witches in Salem, Massachusetts at one point in OUR history. One generation or two is but a blink of an eye in terms of time and long-term successful results.

Not to be picky,
but they didn't burn witches.
They hanged them, crushed them,

or they died in jail.
And almost half of the dead
were men. Damn details . . .

[DCPatriot]

Thanks for filling in the details.

Nevertheless, our country saw some pretty horrific deeds done in the name of religion too.

[prairiebreeze]

Leave it to you to blame Bush/America for on-going cultural misogyny. As usual, you miss the point here. Austin, remind me never to count on you for anything that requires courage, determination and steadfastness.

Prairie

[AntiGuv]

I don't understand people who immolate themselves. There are so many more pleasant and reliable ways to die. Why is this method so prevalent in Asia??

[Camel Joe]

A religion of peace? I say a religion that must be wiped from the face of the earth!

[prairiebreeze]

Can I hazard a guess that it is one last final dramatic "in-you-face" reaction to abuse? Or perhaps there is some spiritual connection to this method.

Maybe it's just cheap and available.

Prairie

[mtbopfuyn]

I have a suspicion this is where the 72 virgins come in. Countless numbers of young girls have committed suicide over the centuries or were killed by their husbands who claim if they can't have them in life they'll have them in death for eternity.

[hellinahandcart]

Um, no, there were no witch-burnings in this country. Hangings yes, burnings no.

[DCPatriot]

Burnings...hangings....

Dead is dead!

[Austin Willard Wright]

I made a specific point about the failure of nation building. Do you disagree?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

This is so tragic. It at least sounds like the woman has a good father.

Stories like this prove that the dysfuntional nature of the Islamic culture is deeply rooted.

[genefromjersey]

How MANY women,one wonders ?? 4 ? 5? A dozen ?

I'm reminded of some of that "anecdotal evidence" showing 1 in 5, or 1 in 4,or maybe 1 in 3 women are sexually abused every day by their spouses.

[theFIRMbss]

>Dead is dead!

Yes, but the point is
you are also wrong to see
religion as the

driving issue in
the Salem witch trials. Review
the social issues.

And, ultimately,
it was Cotton Mather who
denounced evidence

from spirit sources.
Pop myths are entertaining,
they're not history.