Dozens injured in Bangladesh protest against planned women's rights policy

[struggle4progress]

Source: The Canadian Press

DHAKA, Bangladesh — ...

Mokarram Hossain, a Dhaka Metropolitan Police spokesman, says .. protesters chanting anti-government slogans threw stones and bricks at police, who responded with tear gas and baton charges.

Last month, Bangladesh's interim government announced a new policy intended to give women equal property rights and better access to jobs and education.

The policy is not legally binding, but is meant to be used as a guideline for the next parliament to use in forming legislation. Parliamentary elections are expected at the end of this year.

Around 300 police were deployed around the mosque as more than 500 protesters from various Islamic groups took part in the protest, Hossain said ...

Read more: http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJcPM7_lZcMThPaPb-fH6cctfgLw

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Clashes over women’s rights

... The activists were protesting against the recently announced national women policy that called for equal property rights for the women ...

http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/12/stories/2008041255131400.htm

At least 100 hurt as Bangladesh Islamists battle police

... The roads in front of Dhaka's main mosque became a battleground as about 5,000 men armed with bamboo sticks and bricks clashed with police, who responded with tear gas and batons, deputy police commissioner Mazharul Islam said.

"They attacked the policemen with bricks and sticks immediately after the weekly Friday prayers. We shot tear gas shells and baton-charged the unruly activists," Islam said, adding that dozens were injured.

At least 40 policemen were injured as the protesters threw bricks and stones like "heavy rainfall," at the helmeted force, Islam said.

More than 50 people, mainly members of Islamic parties, were also injured and were treated in the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, said senior nurse Harunur Rashid ...

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9H221AxlCj6guVGIcn2i0GSTX1A

150 injured as protesters clash with police in Bangladesh

... The demonstrators were protesting the government’s proposed women’s development policy that seeks to give equal rights to men and women to paternal property.

Among the injured were scores of security personnel and journalists, police said.

In accordance with the Islamic inheritance law a son will get double the share of a daughter of their father’s property. The new policy proposed equal share of son and daughter in their father’s property, which the protesters said was against Islamic law ...

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/150-injured-as-protesters-clash-with-police-in-bangladesh_10037013.html

'Dozens hurt' in Dhaka protests

... The ICM, which is one of a number of groups campaigning for Sharia-based laws in Bangladesh, said the proposed women's rights law was against a Koranic law of inheritance ...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7342972.stm

Dozens injured in Bangladesh protest of women's rights policy

... "It's unacceptable that some groups are trying to make it a point," Ayesha Khanam, a leading women's rights activist, told The Associated Press.

"The policy is not a law — just a guideline that conforms to various women's rights charters," she said. "It has no clash with Islam" ...

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/11/asia/AS-GEN-Bangladesh-Protest.php

[Teaser]

1. See what trouble equal rights causes

Seriously...property rights for women? Get real.

[struggle4progress]

2. Mostly reminds me o'th'conservative anti-ERA movement a few years ago

[Glorfindel]

3. Good grief - Bangladesh has 150,000,000 people

pullulating in a swamp the size of the state of New York. The only thing these geniuses can find to be outraged about is the gentle suggestion that equal property rights for women might possibly be a good idea?