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Ex-Afghan King Wants Women to Regain Rights
Thursday, January 17, 2002
(8:20 AM)
Reuters

(Thursday January 17, 08:27 AM) Hamid Karzai (L), designated head of the interim government that will take power in Afghanistan looks on as the former Afghan King Zahir Shah gestures outside his residence on the outskirts of Rome in this December 18 file photo. Shah has urged the new government to guarantee women's rights, saying they had an important role to play in rebuilding the war-torn country.
Photo Credit: Dylan Martinez -- REUTERS.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Reuters
Afghanistan's former king urged the new government to guarantee women's rights, saying they had an important role to play in rebuilding the war-torn country.

In an interview published by London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper on Thursday, Mohammad Zahir Shah recalled that under the country's 1964 constitution, women enjoyed full rights.

"I firmly believe that every effort must be exerted to guarantee (women's) rights. Their active participation is a vital part of rebuilding our country," the exiled former king told the Arabic-language daily.

Under the ousted hardline Taliban movement, women were not allowed to work, could not attend schools and could not walk in public without being covered from head to toe.

Afghanistan's interim government, which took power after the fall of the Taliban last month, has already shown signs that it will grant women more rights.
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2002 © Reuters, Ltd.

Dan