Stipulating that men can expect to have sex with his wife at least "once every four nights"

The laws coming out of Karzai's Afghanistan seem bizarre even by Taliban standards. Here are some new rules to abide by... No, this is not an April Fool's joke.

• Women can only seek work, education or doctor's appointments with their husband's permission.
• Article 132 requires women to obey their husband's sexual demands and stipulates that a man can expect to have sex with his wife at least "once every four nights" when traveling, unless they are ill. This in effect is said to legalize rape within a marriage negating any need for sexual consent between married couples.
• Only fathers and grandfathers are granted custody of children.

One has got to love the logic behind some of this warped thinking...

"Men and women have equal rights under Islam but there are differences in the way men and women are created. Men are stronger and women are a little bit weaker; even in the west you do not see women working as firefighters."

- Ustad Mohammad Akbari, an MP and the leader of a Hazara political party. The Hazara party is being courted by Mr. Karzai in a bid to win the upcoming elections. From here.

A digital appropriation of Piet van den Boog's oil paintings at Mike Weiss

Making it easier to refuse emergency contraception even for rape victims

A Times editorial on the damage that the current administration can do before we see a new one in the White House.

Existing law allows doctors and nurses to refuse to participate in an abortion. Michael Leavitt, the secretary of health and human services, is expected to issue new regulations after these elections that would extend the so-called right to refuse to a wide range of health care workers and activities including abortion referrals, unbiased counseling and provision of birth control pills or emergency contraception, even for rape victims.

OK, let’s repeat the last part: As a result of the changes to be instituted in a couple of days, a whole range of health care workers (those of whom that make healthcare decisions solely on their religious/moral beliefs) will have the legal right to refuse emergency contraception even for rape victims. Simplistic had highlighted the issue when it had first surfaced in Sept.

Selection from the art of Octavio Ocampo.