Afghan MP expelled for calling parliament 'worse than a zoo'

This was not the first time that 28-year-old Ms Joya, a fervent advocate of women's rights, has angered male MPs with her criticisms. Some have thrown water bottles at her while she spoke in debates and others have threatened her with rape. She has also survived assassination attempts and has to regularly change her address after receiving death threats from Islamist groups.

Ms Joya's suspension yesterday came after a tape of her interview with Tolo TV, an independent station which has faced official wrath over some of its investigative reports, was shown to MPs. Describing what was happening in parliament, she had said: "A stable or a zoo is better, at least there you have a donkey that carries a load and a cow that provides milk. This parliament is worse than a stable or a zoo."

A letter sent by the speaker of the upper house to the speaker of the lower house, Yunus Qanooni, accused Ms Joya of humiliating the institution of parliament. The letter said: "If the lower house does not take a decision about her, we will take a decision." Mr Qanooni said that Ms Joya should be brought before a court. When asked on what grounds, he responded: "The court will explain this."

Several of Afghanistan's MPs are former warlords. One of the last clashes Ms Joya had with them was earlier this year when she opposed legislation granting an amnesty against charges of war crimes during Afghanistan's last 25 years of conflict.

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/article2567969.ece