Karzai's new 'rape law' allows a man to demand sex from wife every 4 days

New York, Apr 3 (ANI): The new law brought by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that allows Shiite men to demand sex from their wives every four days and keep them indoors indefinitely is causing an uproar.

The new Shia Family Law negates the need for sexual consent between married couples, tacitly approves child marriage and restricts a woman's right to leave the home.

US State Department is trying to force a repeal of a law more restrictive than even the old Taliban regime, the Daily News reported.

"We're very concerned about these reports with regard to the legislation," said State Department spokesman Robert Wood.

The passage of what some call "legalized rape" means American women have died fighting in Afghanistan to give men there the right to subjugate women.

Clinton and Karzai met privately on Tuesday at The Hague, but Wood could not say if she pressed him to reverse the law he just signed.

"She may have. I don't know. President Karzai is certainly well-aware of our views with regard to this legislation," Wood said.

The law, which has not yet been published but was leaked by a UN agency, rules that a Shiite woman must seek her husband's permission to go outside.

"Obedience, readiness for intercourse and not leaving the house without the permission of the husband are the duties of the wife," states the law.

"As long as the husband is not travelling, he has the right to have sexual intercourse with his wife every fourth night," it says.

In a divorce, a father always gets custody of any children, according to the law.

The law also attempts to protect Shiite women from sexual neglect, mandating that men must take their wives to bed "at least once every four months." (ANI)