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Show Baluchi Women Fare III in Divorce Cases Peshawar, India. Divorce used to j be nn easy matter In Baluchistan, tiio little-known state which lies just over the northwest frontier nhd to the ! south of Afghanistan. j All a Baluchi had to do was to ap- ! pear before the local court or "Jirga," i composed of a committee of respected ! elders, and state that his wife was un : faithful. lie would at once be grant- ed a divorce, which, Incidentally, gave 1 him the lawful right to kill her. It was argued that any map who : submits to the indignity of neknowl-edging neknowl-edging his wife's unfaithfulness must have true cause. No opportunity was offered the woman to state her case Now there are changes. Westenii zation of the East, so strongly sup ported by King Amanullab of Afghan istan, has crept south, and Baluchis are grumbling that the new divorce laws are not nearly so satisfactory as the old. According to the present system, the woman Is allowed to give evidence evi-dence in her own defense. Even so, the odds are against her. The "Jirga" Is composed of men. and is all-powerful in Baluchistan. There is no redress from faulty verdicts. . The accused, when found guilty, h.is to pay the penalty prescribed anil summary justice is meted out. , |