On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia, one of three countries that recognize the Taliban militia as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, broke diplomatic ties, citing as their reason the Taliban's sheltering of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi fugitive suspected in recent terrorist attacks on Americans in Kenya, Tanzania, Somolia, and Saudi Arabia.
The United Nations continues to pressure the Taliban regime to negotiate with political opponents and loosen stringent restrictions on women.
Afghan women are not allowed to leave their home unless accompanied by their husband or a male blood-relative. Education is no longer an option and quality health care is rare, since doctors are not allowed to touch the women.
The gender apartheid suffered by Afghan women under Taliban rule make everyday life dismal and deadly.
Mauwi Qalmuddin, deputy minister for Islamic virtues responded to criticism stating, "Contrary to all the propaganda, we want dignity for females, while the world demands indignity for them."
6/18/2013 Supreme Court Strikes Down Proof of Citizenship Voter Requirements - On Monday, the United States Supreme Court struck down an Arizona law requiring voters to provide proof of citizenship before being allowed register to vote.
In an opinion written [PDF] by Justice Antonin Scalia, the Court ruled that the Arizona statute violated the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA, also known as the "Motor Voter Law") of 1993, which created a federal form that individuals can mail in to register to vote in federal elections. . . .
6/18/2013 Pakistani Women's University Bus, Hospital Bombed - A bus for a women's university in Pakistan and the hospital that treated victims from the blast were bombed on Saturday, killing 14 students and 24 others at the hospital.
The bus was transporting female students and teachers from Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University in Quetta, located in the southwestern part of Pakistan. . . .
6/18/2013 Taliban Attack In Afghan Capital As NATO Transfers Power - Yesterday, NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) transferred responsibility for the country's security forces to the Afghan government after a bomb blast targeting a political official left three civilians dead in Kabul. . . .
