IMPROVEMENT IN WOMEN'S RIGHTS CHALLENGED IN PAKISTAN

Sixty-eight conservative Islamic members of the Pakistani parliament threatened to resign their seats if the current rape law is changed to provide more protection to women who claim to have been raped.  Current law requires that there be four witnesses to the charges to prove rape, and if the woman fails to prove her claim, she could be convicted of adultery and sentenced to death. Virtually every rape in every country has no witnesses other that the victim and the rapist, so this requirement is a serious deterrent to women filing rape charges.

 The Musharraf government had tried to make changes that would eliminate the four-witness requirement and have rape accusations tried in civil, not religious, courts.  In addition, the proposed law would require a four-witness rule for prosecuting charges of adultery to provide more protection for women. The link to the full article is below.

 These types of laws, based on religious laws and beliefs, demonstrate why we need separation of government and religion.  Government that is not based on respect for human rights for every person, regardless of gender, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, etc., is inherently discriminatory.  Whenever any religion gains governmental power and authority, human rights abuses are sure to follow. History clearly shows that any religion, combined with the power of government, has the possibility of becoming extremist and the vehicle for repressing basic human rights in the name of God.

 The amazing religious diversity in the United States is the result of the principle of separation of church and state.  The Founding Fathers had the opportunity to establish a state religion, but specifically refused to do so because of their experience with the concept of the divine rights of kings in their struggle for independence from England.  If God chooses the monarch, then any conflict with the monarch automatically becomes a revolt against the will of God. 

 In order to have true democracy we must have human rights, and we cannot have human rights until we are free to worship, or not worship, as we please without the fear that our government officials will punish us for violating their religious views and beliefs.  

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14698757/