Okay...wait, what?!

Today is Independence Day AKA the Fourth of July, at least it was when I started typing this soon to be novel of a post. The day we celebrate our independence as a country, our freedom. I'm forever grateful to all the men and women who have served and left behind family and friends and those that have given their lives for that freedom.

So last night as I was lying in bed listening to idiots fire off bottle rockets somewhere on the street behind us, I'm sorry that was harsh, I meant inconsiderate idiots. What? Get off my back, I had a three year old sleeping peacefully and I wanted to keep it that way. I wil extend grace during the appropriate non-sleeping, non tv watching hours of the day. Well, of course all of this got me thinking about the 4th and the subjects of independence and freedom and a few things entered my mind (After I finished mentally cursing the rocketeers of course. Uh, I mean, God Bless us every one...) First was of course, Lee Greenwood because he's like the unofficial Grand Marshall of Independence Day. Second was George Michael because, I'm sorry but Freedom is a catchy little tune. And third was an article I read a couple of months ago in Marie Claire about Afghan women, the injustice they endure and the fact that they have no independence or freedom (and you thought this was going to be a lighthearted post, silly you).

Are you familiar with the term "moral crime"? Yes? No? Maybe I'm the only one who was unaware what they were but if you are also unaware you might want to hide your breakables 'cause you 'bout to get pissed off. At least I hope you are because if this doesn't upset you at least a little bit on some level you may be a robot. Seriously, go check your batteries Mr/Ms R2-Wouldn't want to-BU.

Now,I knew that life for Afghan women falls incredibly short of where it should be but I was unaware that there are women and young girls (some as young as 12) who are in prison for what are deemed "moral crimes". Many of these women are in jail along with their infants and young children (who have been pulled from school to live in prison with their mother), with little shelter from the cold and heat and sometimes without milk for their babies. According to the Afghan Women's Justice Project these "moral crimes" could be things such as:

- Leaving your home without your husbands permission (A law was signed just last year requiring women to ask permission before leaving their homes. Obviously things are still moving in the wrong direction.)
- Refusing to marry your rapist
- Running away from your abusive husband with your child, then being sent to prison for kidnapping - with your child
- Murder-By-Proxy, where a male murders someone and assigns his prison sentence to a female family member

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?!?!?!?! Unfortunately no, these things are completely unbelievable but unfortunately, painfully very true.

What's more is all that is needed for a woman to be convicted of a "moral crime" is for two or more men to accuse her of it. That's it. No trial. No evidence. Just their word against hers and she's sent to prison.

The article shared the story of one such girl named Badia, a 16 year old girl, who ran away from her abusive 40 year old husband who beat her almost everyday since she was married off to him at the age of 12. TWELVE. After giving birth to a daughter and fearing for both of their lives she ran away, barefoot and into the snowy night. She was soon caught and is now in jail with her baby girl for leaving the man who beat her. Unbelievably, her husband was considered kind in her village for not having killed her and their daughter after taking a second wife, because Badia was considered useless and a burden for not giving birth to a son. Excuse me while I go punch a wall.

This brings me back to my last post. If you think about these things it's easy to get overwhelmed and feel like the problem is too big, too overwhelming, too "set in its' ways", too far away. But there is something that we can do. You can visit the AWJP website (the link is below) and sign the petition. Also, in an effort to raise funds and awareness Marie Claire commissioned a great "Not Guilty" T-Shirt which sells for $25 (pic below) Oh wait, not it's not because this stupid thing won't let me post the pic and I'm sick of messing with it so please just visit the site and see it and buy it or at least lie to me and tell me you did. Ugh, technology, why you do me like this?! Anyway, the proceeds are going to the Afghan Women's Justice Project. Their mission is to demand and provide humane treatment and legal defense for Afghan women and children incarcerated for gender-based inequality and injustice. The AWJP will distribute the funds to non-profit groups that are working to improve the lives of imprisoned women.

If you'd like to sign the petition, order a T-Shirt (and come on, we know that we all love a good t-shirt!) or learn more about the Afghan Women's Justice Project you can do so here AWJP.org

Or if you're like "I've got enough t-shirts, stop with the t-shirts already!" you can also go to that site and make a donation, no t-shirts involved.

And you can read the full Marie Claire article here Marie-Claire-Article