An Afghan journalist has gone to jail for his efforts to protect women. (Here in America, journalists go to jail for their efforts to protect Karl Rove.)

Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, the male editor of a magazine called "Women's Rights," was -- in a none-too-fair trial -- convicted of blasphemy and sentenced to two years in prison for reprinting two articles critical of certain severe punishments dictated by sharia law, such as 100 lashes for adultery. The sentence will automatically be appealed.

Not surprisingly, the case has caused a stir among advocates of women's rights, human rights and freedom of the press, and also among those who'd been led to believe we were fighting for those kinds of things over there in the first place.

Organizations such as the Feminist Majority are asking people to contact Condoleezza Rice and Undersecretary for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky and demand that they support the appeal and "urge the global community to join them in their efforts."

But whatever you do, for God's sake don't tell Karen Hughes.