Kabul
After weeks of debate, Afghanistan’s loya jirga has approved a new constitution that provides for a moderate Islamic republic with most power concentrated in the president. “We have proven that through 30 years of war, we still have a culture, and we are still civilized,” said President Hamid Karzai. “It is a success for all of us.” The approval clears the way for Afghanistan’s first democratic elections, scheduled for June. But applying and interpreting the new constitution will be a long-term challenge. The document grants equal rights to women, for example, but also forbids passing any law that goes against the tenets of Islam. Some Afghans fear such provisions are bound to clash and that the struggle will have to play out in the courts and in parliament.
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