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Women’s Rights in Iraq
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Warm-Up
• IhavetraveledtoIraq.
• Iammyself,orhaveaclosefriendorfamilymember,
whoisMuslim.
• MostofwhatIknowaboutIraqhascomefromwhat
I’veseenonTV.
• TheinformationthattheTVprovidesisalways
accurate.
AGREEDISAGREE
Warm-Up
• Therearemanystereotypesthatexistaboutpeople
wholiveintheMiddleEast.
• PeopleinIraqhavesimilarhopes,dreams,andfearsto
peoplelivingintheUnitedStates.
• WomenwhoareMuslimhavelessrightsthanwomen
whopracticeChristianity.
AGREEDISAGREE
Women in Iraq Historically Enjoyed More Freedo
ms
• Throughoutmuchofrecenthistory,Iraqwasactuallyoneofthemost
progressivecountriesintheMiddleEastforwomen,withIraqi
womenhistoricallyenjoyingmorefreedomsthanthewomenof
neighboringcountries.
– Asearlyas1948,womenwereparticipatinginIraq’srevolutionarymovement
againstBritishinfluenceandmonarchyinIraq.
– The1959LawofPersonalStatus—whichcameintobeingthankstoa
mobilizationbyIraqiwomenaftertheendofBritishcolonialrule—gavewomen
equalrightstodivorce,restrictedpolygamy,prohibitedmarriagesunderage18
andensuredthatmenandwomenhadthesameinheritancerights.
– Fromthe1950stothe1970s,Iraqiwomen
couldlegallywork,study,marry,divorce,and
wearwhattheywanted.
– Asof1963,theWomen’sIraqiLeaguehadover
40,000members.
DoesitsurpriseyoutohearthatwomeninIraq
wereactuallygrantedmorerightsthanin
otherMiddleEasterncountries?
Whydoyouthinkitisoftenassumedthat
womeninIraqhavealwayssufferedfroma
lackofrights?
Misunderstanding or Stereotyping Religions
• Whichtypeofprayerismostfamiliarto
you?Unfamiliartoyou?
• Whydowesometimesjudge,
stereotype,ormakegeneralizations
aboutthatwhichisunfamiliar?
Misunderstanding or Stereotyping
Religions & Culture
• Whichoftheseimagescontainpeopledressingin
accordancewiththeirreligiousbeliefsorcultural
practices?
• Whichreligionsmayberepresentedinsuchdress?
• Whichformsofdressareyoumostfamiliarwith?
Whatsimilaritiescanyounotebetweenthatwith
whichyouarefamiliarandtheotherimages?
Understanding Islam
• IslamisthepredominantreligioninIraqandtherestofthe
MiddleEast.
• IslamisthereligionarticulatedbytheQur’an,consideredby
believerstobetheliteralwordofGod.
• OnewhopracticesIslamisaMuslim,meaning"onewho
submits[toGod].”
• ThevastmajorityofMuslimsbelongtooneoftwomajor
denominations,theSunni andtheShi'a.
• Hijab isthetypeofheadcoveringtraditionallywornby
Muslimwomen,butcanalsorefertomodestMuslim
stylesofdressingeneral.
• Muslimsdifferastohow"hijabdress"shouldbe
enforced.
Islam and Women
OMankindreverence
YourGuardian-Lord
Whocreatedyou
FromaSingleperson;
Createdoflikenature
Hismate,andfromthemtwain
Scattered[likeseeds]
Countlessmenandwomen
• WhatisthispassagefromtheQur’ansaying?
Islam and Women
• Islamisnomoreorlessrepressivetowomenthanotherworld
religions.
• Islamisconsideredbymanyasaveryprogressivereligionfor
women,sincemanyScripturesaddresstheequalityofwomen
andmen.
– AccordingtotheKoran,menandwomenareequalbeforegod,and
bothsexesshareequalrightsandresponsibilitieswithinthefaith.
– Islamseesawoman,whethersingleormarried,asanindividualwho
reservestherighttoownanddisposeofherownpropertyand
earnings,andsheispermittedtoeitherkeepherfamilynameor
adoptherhusband’swhenshemarries.
Islam and Women
Accordingtomany“Islamicfeminists,”Islamisactuallyavery
progressivereligionforwomen,wasradicallyegalitarianforitstime,
andremainssoinsomeofitsscriptures.TheycontendthatIslamic
lawhasevolvedinwaysthatareinimicaltogenderequalitynot
becauseitclearlypointedinthatdirection,butbecauseofselective
interpretationbypatriarchalleadersandaminglingofIslamic
teachingswithtribalcustomsandtraditions.Islamicfeministsnow
seektorevivetheequalitybestowedonwomeninthereligion’searly
yearsbyrereadingtheKoran,puttingtheScripturesincontext,and
disentanglingthemfromtribalpractices.
~IsobelColeman,“Women,Islam,andtheNewIraq”
WhatmessageisColemantryingtoconveyinthispassage?
Interpretation of Islamic Law
•
•
WhiletheQur’anhasabout80versesconcerninglegalissues,manyofwhich
refertotheroleofwomeninsocietyandtoimportantfamilyissues
(i.e.marriage,divorce,inheritance),otherday-to-dayissuesarenot
addressedorareaddressedverybroadlyandthusareinterpreted.
Sharia isthebodyofIslamiclawthatwasdevelopedbyreligiousscholars
afterthedeathoftheProphetMuhammad.
– Sharia ismeanttoprovidemoralandlegalguidancetoMuslimsandisbasedon
theQur’anandtheSunna (recordedtraditionsorcustomsoftheProphet).
– SinceSharia’s prescriptionsandprohibitionscanbebroad,theapplicationin
practicevaries.
– Islamicscholars(knownasulama)haveelaboratedsystemsoflawonthebasisof
theserulesandtheirinterpretations.
– Itisinsuchinterpretationswhereconservativepositionscanbeapplied,ora
moremodernnotioncanbeapplied.
Whatcanbeproblematicaboutsuchinterpretation(inall
religions)?
Interpretation of Islamic Law
• InterpretationandtheimposingofconservativepositionsonIslam
canresultinwomen’srightsbeinglimitedinsomecases:
– Bothmenandwomenareexpectedtodressinasimple,modest,anddignified
manneraccordingtoIslam,butthedressinsomeIslamiccountriesreflects
localcustomsmorethanitdoesreligiousprinciple.
– Likewise,thetreatmentofwomeninsomeareasoftheIslamicworldreflects
culturalpracticesthatareinconsistentwith,ifnotcontraryto,authenticIslamic
teachings.
• WhileIslamicattitudesonthequestionofIslamandmodernnotions
ofwomen’srightsvary,Islamicfeministsnowseektorevivethe
equalitybestowedonwomeninthereligion’searlyyearsbyrereading
theKoran,puttingtheScripturesincontext,anddisentanglingthem
fromtribalpractices.
• “ThewidespreadviewthatIraq’sviolence,sectarianism,and
systematicerosionofwomen’srightsisinherenttoMuslimorIraqi
culturejustisn’ttrue.“~NadjeAl-Ali,Iraqifeminist
A Decline of Rights for Iraqi Women
Over Recent Decades
• EachdecadeinIraqseemstohavebecomeworsethantheprevious
oneintermsofwomen’srights.
• UndertheregimeofSaddamHussein,therightsaffordedtowomen
wereprogressivelylimitedeachdecade.
• WhiletherehavebeenpositiveoutcomesinIraqsincethe2003US
invasion,unfortunatelywomen’srightshavecontinuedtodecline.
• ManyIraqifeministsclaimthatwomenaredeniedmoreciviland
socialrightsandbeenvictimtomoreabusesthantheyhaveinthe
past60years.
• Doesthissurpriseyou?Whyor
whynot?
The Rise of Saddam Hussein
& the Baath Party
• In1968,theBaathParty,underPresidentBakr,seizedpowerinIraq.
• SaddamHussein,amemberoftheBaathParty,becameDeputy
ChairmanoftheRevolutionaryCommandCouncil.
– ThispositionplacedhimassecondinpowerintheBaathParty
– HewasinchargeofinternalIraqisecurity
• By1973,HusseinwasVicePresidentofIraqunderPresidentBakr.
• Throughoutthe1970s,Husseinconsolidatedhispower,placingmany
familymembersandpeoplefromhishometowninimportant
positionsintheIraqigovernmentandmilitary.
– WhydoyouthinkSaddamHusseindidthis?
The Rise of Saddam Hussein
& the Baath Party
• In1979,PresidentBakrresignedunderpressurefromHussein,who
thenbecamepresident.
• ImmediatelyafterHussein’ssuccessionin1979,hecalledaBaath
Partymeetingandhadallofhisoppositionsystematicallymurdered.
• Aspresident,Husseincontinuedtoreinforcehispowerbaseby
enlargingsecurityforcesandemployingfamilymembersinthegovt.
• Ithasbeenestimatedthatasof1984,50%ofIraqiswereeither
employedbythegovernmentormilitaryorhadafamilymember
whowas.
WhateffectdoyouthinkthishadonIraq’s
government?
Life in Iraq Under Hussein’s Rule
• With50%ofIraqisworkingforthegovernment,thepopulation
wasintimatelyconnectedtoanddominatedbyHussein.
• Hussein’sauthoritarianregimewasaterribledictatorshipthroughout
whichmanyhumanrightsatrocitieswerecommitted.
• Peopleweretorturedandterrorizedforovertwodecadesand
hundredsofthousandsdiedasaresultofSaddam'sactions.
– Saddamhadapproximately40ofhisownrelativesmurdered.
– ThewarthatSaddamwagedagainstIraq(1980-88)left150,000to340,000
Iraqisand450,000to730,000Iraniansdead.
– HewagedchemicalattacksonKurdishvillages,killingthousands.HumanRights
WatchreportedthatSaddam's1987-1988campaignofterroragainsttheKurds
killedatleast50,000andpossiblyasmanyas100,000Kurds.
– In2001,AmnestyInternationalreported:"VictimsoftortureinIraqare
subjectedtoawiderangeofformsoftorture,includingthegougingoutofeyes,
severebeatingsandelectricshocks...somevictimshavediedasaresultand
manyhavebeenleftwithpermanentphysicalandpsychologicaldamage."
Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• WhileSaddamHusseincommittedmanyatrocities,initially
someofhispolicieswereactuallyfavorabletowomen.
– SaddamcreatedaWestern-stylesecular legalsystem,making
IraqtheonlycountryinthePersianGulfregionnotruled
accordingtotraditionalIslamiclaw(sharia)
• Underthissystem,totheconsternationofIslamicconservatives,
Saddam'sgovernmentdeclaredthatcitizenswereequalregardless
ofsex,blood,language,socialorigin,orreligion.
• Theconstitutiondraftedin1970guaranteedwomentherightto
vote,attendschool,ownpropertyandrunforpoliticaloffice.
• Womenheldhigh-levelgovernmentand
industryjobs.
• Asdecadespassedhowever,thestatusof
womenunderHussein’srulebecameworse.
1970sWomen’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• 1970s:
– DuringthefirstdecadeoftheBaathRegime(1970s)thegovt.
promotedwomenenteringtheeducationsectorandlabor
force.
– Thiswasnot duetoanyprogressiveviewsonthepartofthe
Husseinregime;itwascircumstantial.Iraqwasexperiencingan
economicboomduringthistimeandthusmanyjobswerein
needofbeingfilled.Since50%ofIraq’spopulationwerewomen,
thegovernmentencouragedwomentowork.
– Hussein’sspeechesinthe1970scontainmanyreferencestothe
“goodIraqiwoman”beinganeducated,workingwoman.
– Policieswerecreatedtohelpwomenbesuccessful,suchasfree
childcare,transportationto/fromworkorschool,maternity
benefits,etc.
1980sWomen’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule Decline
• 1980s:
•
– TheonsetoftheIran-IraqWar(1980-99)broughtaboutatougheningofthe
state’spositiontowardswomen.
– Ononehand,duetomenbeingawayfightingthewar,womenwereneeded
evenmoretoentertheworkforceandfillthejobsmentypicallydid.
– However,Hussein’smessagechangedduringthe80sandhebeganstatingthat
awoman’srolewastobearchildren.Hisspeechesnowreferredtothe“good
Iraqiwoman”asagoodmothertoasoldier.
– In1985,Husseinstatedthateverywomanshouldhavefivechildrenandthe
governmentactivelytriedtoincreasefertility.Forexample,massweddings
wouldbesponsoredbythegovernment,wherehundredsofcoupleswouldbe
marriedatonce.
– Womenwerehavingandraisinglargefamiliesandworking;theywere
expectedtobe“superwomen.”
WhydoyouthinkHussein’smessagechanged?
Ingeneralincasesofwar,"womencarriedtheconflictingdoubleburdenofbeing
themainmotorsofthestatebureaucracyandthepublicsector,themain
breadwinnersandheadsofhouseholdsbutalsothemothersof'futuresoldiers‘.”
1990sWomen’s Rights Continue to Decline
•
1990s:
– TheGulfWar/DesertStormtookplacefrom1990-1991
– EconomicsanctionswereimposedonIraqinaneffort
togetHusseintocomply.Iraqwasblockedfromany
outsideresourcesorassistance,exceptformedicineand,inhumanitarian
circumstances,fooditems.
– Thesanctions(whichlasteduntil2003)hadadevastatingimpactonIraqandhave
beenconsideredthetoughest,mostcomprehensivesanctionsinhumanhistory.It
hasbeenarguedthatthesanctionsincreasedchild-and-infantmortality,poverty,
&sufferinginflictedontheIraqipeople.
– InanattempttomaintainlegitimacyaftertheGulfWarandappeaseconservative
patriarchalconstituenciesinIraq,Husseinbeganimplementinganti-woman
legislation,suchasthe1990presidentialdecreegrantingimmunitytomenwho
hadcommitted“honour"crimes.
– Withthelegalizationofhonourkillings,Husseinfurtherunderminedwomen's
rolesandtheirsocialstatusinthesociety.
1990sWomen’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• 1990s(cont.):
– A60%unemploymentratedevelopedinIraqandaneconomiccrisis
ensued,whichledtogreatersocialconservatism.
– Hussein’sspeechesnowreferredto“goodIraqiwomen”asbeingthose
whostayedhome.Thepreviousresourcesprovidedtowomenweretaken
awayandwomenwerenowexpectedtostayhomeandkeephouse.
– Duetothevariousconflictsandwars,70%offamiliesinIraqnowhad
womenastheheadofthehousehold.Thus,toavoidpoverty,women
wereoftenforcedintobeggingorprostitutiontocarefortheirlarge
families.
– Achangeinwomen’sdresscodeoccurredin1990s,withwomenexpected
todressmoreconservatively.
Women’s Rights in Iraq
Part II
“Theadvanceofwomen’sright
sandtheadvanceoflibertya
reultimatelyinseparable.”
President George Bush, 3/14/04
2003 - Invasion of Iraq
•
•
•
•
•
•
March20,2003markedthebeginningoftheIraqWar
(alsoknownasOperationIraqiFreedom),aninvasionled
bytroopsfromtheUnitedStatesandtheUnitedKingdom.
Priortothewar,theUSandUKclaimedthatIraq'salleged
possessionofweaponsofmassdestruction(WMD)poseda
securitythreat.
Afterinvestigationfollowingtheinvasion,theUS-ledIraqSurveyGroup
concludedthatIraqhadendeditsnuclear,chemical,andbiologicalprograms
in1991andhadnoactiveprogramsatthetimeoftheinvasion,butthatthe
yintendedtoresumeproductioniftheIraqsanctionswerelifted.
SomeUSofficialsalsoaccusedHusseinofharboringandsupporting
al-Qaeda, butnoevidenceofanoperationconnectionwaseverfound.
TheinvasionofIraqledtoanoccupationandthecaptureofHussein,who
waslaterexecutedbythenewIraqigovernment.
Violenceagainstcoalitionforcesandamongvarioussectariangroupssoon
ledtotheIraqiinsurgency,strifebetweenmanySunniandShiaIraqigroups,
andal-QaedaoperationsinIraq.
2003 - Invasion of Iraq
•
•
•
•
•
WomeninIraqhavesufferedandbravely
enduredthroughoutitshistoryofdictatorship,
war,sanctions,etc.
Initiallyafterthe2003invasion,Iraqsawa
collapseofnormal,everydaylife.
ThewidescaledestructionoftheIraq's
infrastructure(i.e.sanitation,watersupply,and
electricity)asaresultofwarandsanctions
negativelyimpactedwomen.
Tosurvive,womenhadtoassumeextraburdens
anddomesticresponsibilitiesinsociety,as
opposedtotheirmalecounterparts.
Forexample,whenlootingandlawlessnesswere
rampant,itwaswomenwhowouldmobilizeand
cleanupthelootedschoolorcareforpatients
attheabandonedhospital.
Increase in Violence
•
•
Asrepressiveattitudesagainstwomenhavere-emerged,
atrocitiesagainstwomenhaverisen.
Since2005,violenceagainstIraqiwomenhasincreased.
– ThroughouttheUSoccupation,manywomenhavebeeninjuredinviolence
relatedtoareabombardments,randomshootings,genderspecificviolence,
verbal&physicalharassmentduringrandomhousesearchesandcheckpoints.
– Mothers/wivesofsuspectedinsurgentshavereportedbeingharassed,with
accountsoftortureandrape.
– Variousrulesregardingwomenhavebeenenforced,suchasprohibitingthem
fromworkingordriving.
– Inlate2004,classroomsatBasrahUniversitywereseparatedbygender;sucha
stepwaspreviouslyunheardof.
•
WomenarealsobeingusedtomakeastatementagainsttheWestand
imperialism– (i.e.,attitudessuchas“WeinIraqwillnotbeliketheWest– we
willcontrolourwomen”,whichleadtoviolenceagainstIraqiwomen.)
Hijab in Iraq – The Veil
•
Theveil(alsoreferredtoashijab)playsamajorroleinMuslimcultureformany
womeninIraq.
– Somewomenchoose towearhijabforreligiousreasons.
– Forotherwomen,theveilhaslostitssignificancebutisahabit/traditionthattheyfind
difficulttodiscardandthuschoose tocontinuewearing.
– Therearealsomanywomenwhodonotwearhijabbychoice,andwouldratherdress
inamoremodernfashion.
•
However,accordingtoIraqifeministYanarMohammed,since2003"Iraqiwomen
havebeenbrutallyattacked,kidnappedandintimidatedfromparticipatinginthe
Iraqisociety…WarandoccupationhavecostIraqiwomentheirlegalstandingand
theireverydayfreedomofdressandmovement".
– Varioussectariangroupshavethustakenituponthemselvestoenforce
thewearingofhijabinaviolentway,takingawaywomen’schoice.
– ManyIraqiwomen,duetotheirfearofbeingrapedandharassed,are
havingtowearnotonlyaveilbutalsocompleteblackdressinordernot
toattractattention.
– In2004,leafletsweredistributedregardingconservativedress
requirementsforwomen;theyweretoldtheymustwearhijab.
“Honour Killings”
•
•
Aso-called“honorkilling”occurswhenafamilyfeelsthattheirfemalerelative
hastarnishedtheirreputationbywhattheylooselyterm“immoralbehavior”.
Thisperceiveddishonorisnormallytheresultof:
– dresscodesunacceptabletothefamily(notwearing
hijab,wearingmake-up,etc.)
– wantingoutofanarrangedmarriageorchoosingto
marrybyownchoice
– beingsuspectedofhavingengagedinpremaritalsex
– beingthevictimofsexualviolenceorbeingsuspected
ofbeingsuchavictim(i.e.,rape,incest,etc.)
• WomeninIraqarekidnappedforsexualexploitation.Whilemanyare
murdered,thoserapedandreleasedarenotnecessarilysafesincethe
responseofsomefamilieshasbeentokillher.
•
Thepersonchosenbythefamilytocarryoutthemurder(usuallymale:a
brother,father,cousin,husband,etc.)brutallyendstheirfemalerelative'slife
to“cleansethefamilyoftheshameshebroughtuponthem.”
“Honour Killings”
• AccordingtocalculationsbytheUN,overfive
thousandwomenaremurderedeachyearinthe
nameofhonor– thatis13womeneveryday.
– Itisdifficulttogetexactnumbers,sincemanyofthesemurdersgounreportedan
dtheperpetratorsunpunishedduetotheactsbeing“justified”inthenameof
familyhonor.
• InitsreportsonhumanrightsinIraq,theUNAssistanceMissionfor
Iraqhasregularlyhighlighted“honourkillings”asoneofIraq’smost
serioushumanrightsabuses.
• Ithasurgedthejudiciarytosendaclearsignalthatthekillingof
womento“protecthonour”willnotbetolerated.
Iraq’s New Government
•
•
•
•
WiththeoverthrowofSadaam HusseininMarch
2003,Shiiteleadersmadeitclearthatthey
expectedthe“newIraq”tobeanIslamicstate.
Thismeantthatratherthanfollowingsecularlaw(lawsnotpertainingto
religion),Iraqwouldbegovernedbysharia (Islamicreligiouslaw).
Rememberthathowsharia playsoutforwomen’srightsislargelybased
uponinterpretation.Manyfeministsthusbelievethenewconstitutionin
Iraq,withitsfoundationinIslamicsharia lawbutmoreimportantlybased
ontheagendaofthosegoverning,hasresultedinwomenlosingtheciviland
socialrightsguaranteedtomen.
Forexample,inDecember2003,theconservativeIraqiGoverningCouncil
(appointedbytheUS)decidedtoabolishthePersonalStatusLaw.
– Resolution137,whichcanceledIraq’sexistingfamilylawsandplacedsuchissuesunderthe
rulesofsharia
– TheResolutionwasveryvagueandimpliedthateachIslamiccommunitycouldimposeits
ownrulesonissuessuchasmarriage,divorce,andotherimportantfamilymatters
•
WhydoyouthinkResolution137worriedwomen’sgroups?
Representation of Women
• IntheSpringof2004,aDelegationofIraqiWomennoted
thatwomenhadbeeninstrumentalinkeepingthecity
togetherthroughoutwarandsanctionsanddemanded
representationinthenewgovernment.
• Thewomenlobbiedforaquotarequiring40%representationinallof
Iraq’sgovernmentinstitutions,theyweregranted25%.
– Whilesuchrepresentationisastepintherightdirection,inpracticeitisnot
implementedonalllevelsofgovernment.
– Likewise,Iraqiwomen’sactivistshavequestionedwhothewomen
representativesactuallyare.
– Initially,therepresentativeswerethewivesanddaughtersofconservativemale
politicians;mosthadneverbeeninvolvedinpoliticsbeforeandwerenot
concernedaboutwomen’srights.
– DuringthefirstyearstheywerepartofParliamentthewomen
representativesliterallyfollowedtheleadofmalevoters.
– However,somewomenrepresentativeshavestartedtodeveloptheirownviews
andchallengemalepoliticians.
– Howdoesa25%representationofwomen’inIraq’sgovernmentcompareto
representationofwomenintheUSgovernment?
Voting
• As“democracy”wasimplementedinIraq,imagesofsuccess,suchas
womencastingvotesinIraq’selections,wereshownaroundthe
world.
• However,manyIraqifeministsmaintainedthatthiswasNOTthe
beginningoftruedemocracy.
• Theycontendedthatwomenvotingmayhavebeenasymbolof
hope,butthatinactualitymanydidn’tknowwhoorwhattheywere
votingfor.
• WhatcanbedonetohelpIraqi
womenbeeducatedvotersand
ensuretheprinciplesofdemocracy
arereached?
Listen…
IraqiWomenFaceGreaterDanger,FewerRights
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18518858
Progress
• Women’sorganizationsstrivetohelpimprovetherightsof
womeninIraqandassistthosebeingpersecuted.
– TheOrganizationofWomen'sFreedomhassetupanetworkofwomen'sshelters,
alongwithakindofIraqiUndergroundRailroad,toprotectwomenwhohavebeen
abusedorbecometargetsof"honorkillings.“Manyoftheemployeeshavehadto
leavethecountryduetodeaththreats,buttheorganizationcontinuestofightfor
women’srights.
• Despitethreats,theIraqiWomen’sNetworkstillhasover80
women’sorganizationswhowork
acrossethnicandreligious
differencestoimprovetherights
andlivesofIraqiwomen.
Progress
•
•
ThereareencouragingstoriesofprogressandhopecomingoutofIraq.Iraq’s
infrastructureandeconomyisbeingrebuiltandhumanitarianassistanceand
charitiesarepromotingthehealthandwell-beingofIraqipeople.
TheUScanalsoplayaconstructiveroleinassistingIraqiwomen,suchas:
– AidIraqiwomen’sgroups
– SupportIraqibusinesswomen
– SupporttheeducationofIraqiwomen(“femaleeducationmaybethebestwayto
advancethestatusofwomen”)
– AssistwithjudicialreforminIraq(i.e.,trainingjudges,especiallywomen,in
modernIslamicjurisprudence)
– Tohelpwomendefendtheirrights,educateIraqisaboutwhattheirrightsare– both
underthenewConstitutionandsharia
Whyisknowingwhatyourrightsareanimportantstepindefending
yourself?
Whichoftheabovedoyouthinkhasthemostpotentialinimprovingthe
situationofIraq’swomen?
Resources
AudioRecordings
WhatKindofLiberation?WomenandIraq:http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2009/0909.html
StatusofWomeninIraq,PartI:Baghdad:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3375003
IraqiWomenFaceGreaterDanger,FewerRights:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18518858
IraqiWomen's-RightsActivistYanarMohammed:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18183959&ps=rs
InIraq,ActivistStrugglesasWomen'sRightsShrinkhttp://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10543975&ps=rs
IraqiWomenFightforRightsinNewConstitution:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4785286&ps=rs
ConcernGrowsoverIraqi'HonorKillings‘:http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5043032
Articles
ShatteringIllusions:WesternConceptionsofMuslimWomen:http://www.jannah.org/sisters/shatter.html
AnIslamicPerspectiveonViolenceAgainstWomen:http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/violence&harrassment/violence.html
WaveOfViolence’AgainstWomenInIraqUndercutsWhiteHouse’sClaimsOfSuccess:
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/24/women-iraq/
Hiddenvictimsofabrutalconflict:Iraq'swomen:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/oct/08/iraq.peterbeaumont
FourArrestedinIraqHonorKilling:http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/18/iraq.honorkilling/index.html
Thebattleagainstbrutality:http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/28/iraq-women-rights-us-news
Wehavenotbeenliberated:http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/mar/06/iraqiwomensempowermentunder
Women'srightsatriskinIraq:http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/16/MNG3S4BAUP1.DTL&type=printable
Fightingforwomen'srightsinIraq:http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/26/pysk.mohammed/index.html
TheTalibanizationofIraq:http://www.msmagazine.com/spring2007/taliban.asp
RestoringPeace&HopetotheWomenofIraq:
http://www.womenforwomen.org/global-initiatives-helping-women/help-women-iraq.php
Saddamwasn'tafeminist.:http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110008230
Coleman,Isobel.“Women,Islam,andtheNewIraq.”ForeignAffairs.