West pushes to reform traditionalist Afghan courts | csmonitor.com

West pushes to reform traditionalist Afghan courts | csmonitor.com:

"KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Since the summer of 2002, septuagenarian Fazel Hadi Shinwari has run Afghanistan's Supreme Court like the respected Islamic scholar he is.

He has banned the Afghan feminist Sima Samar from holding a cabinet position, after she reportedly said she didn't believe in Islamic sharia law.

He has banned an Afghan TV station for showing what he called 'half-naked singers and obscene scenes from movies.' He has also spoken against coeducation; has supported the employment of women (if they wear head scarves); and ordered the arrest of an Afghan journalist who suggested that, in some cases, the Koran was open to interpretation. The charges in this case were blasphemy, punishable by death."