Sharia Law Begins to Restrict Women in Swat Valley

http://www.christianpost.com/Intl/Overseas/2009/03/sharia-law-begins-to-restrict-women-in-swat-valley-18/index.html

[The Christian Post] 19 Mar 2009--Women living in the northwest region of Pakistan have begun to feel the restrictive effects of sharia law this week as its courts start to administer justice.

Under the newly imposed Islamic laws, which began on Monday, women living in Malakand area are not allowed to be or speak in public by themselves, they must cover their heads, and thousands of girls are likely to now be unable to go to school, according to Asia News.

Also, Protestant and Catholic residents, who number about a thousand, fear discrimination and many have begun to move to areas where sharia law is not the legal justice system.

The local government of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), with the approval of the central government headed by President Asif Ali Zardari, had reached an agreement with local Muslim leaders to allow sharia courts to be in charge of justice in the Malakand area in exchange for terrorist groups to stop their extremist activities in the region.

In recent months, there has been a surge in violence by terrorist groups, especially in Swat Valley, including beheadings, burning girls schools and assaulting security forces.

The Muslim leaders, who have intimate ties with local terrorist groups, assured that if sharia courts are allowed to administer justice then groups such as the Taliban and Al Qaeda will cease their attacks on civilians.

It’s worth noting that one of the Muslim leaders participating in the negotiation had previously led a band of men to fight alongside the Taliban in Afghanistan against the U.S.-led coalition.