Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009
Written By: Hannah Bozman (Saddleback YMCA) from ITARR-TASS

Saturday morning in International Court of Justice (ICJ) the agents presented their information to the Justices of the ICJ.  The morning debate was their first topic: Rights of Those Accused of Crimes (Citizens and Foreign Nationals).  One of the conflicts was  Morocco with Jordan versus Afghanistan. 

Morocco and Jordan are accusing Afghanistan of denying two citizens of their rights in court.  Two women were publicly protesting woman’s rights in Afghanistan.  Then, as reported, two men started throwing rocks at them.  Because the women thought this was insulting, they picked up the rocks and threw them back.  Since the rocks hit one of the men, they were arrested soon after by the Afghanistan police.

Being from Morocco and Jordan, they were not Muslim.  Both women were not allowed to practice their religion (Catholicism) while being detained. Jordan and Morocco exclaimed that the women were tried with all-male tribunals and were not allowed the attorney they requested.  However, Afghanistan stated that it is against their law to practice religion while in court.   Afghanistan then clarified that the lawyer they wanted did not have a license to work in Afghanistan.  However, they did not comment on the all-male tribunal. 

The court feels that five years is an appropriate sentence because an Islam law states that men are far more superior to women.  Therefore, the women’s retaliation was a direct infraction to the
Islamic Law.  Jordan and Morocco are indignant that five years is an unacceptable sentence for such a small fracture in

the law.  They asked the Justices to see that the sentence is shortened or eliminated.

The Justices have tonight to decide what will happen and will tell the public their decision tomorrow.  Stay posted for the second half to the first debate and the second debate.