Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I ask the foreign minister: is he aware that the Karzai government just last week promulgated regulations which, amongst other things, permit husbands to beat their wives? I ask him: is he aware of the comments by Malalai Joya, a former Afghan parliamentarian, who said:

I feel confident that if foreign countries stop meddling in Afghanistan and if we are left free from occupation, then a strong progressive and democratic force will emerge.