Women’s Rights in Iraq

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 Warm-
• I have traveled to Up
Iraq.
• I am myself, or have a close friend or family
member, who is Muslim.
• Most of what I know about Iraq has come from
what I’ve seen on TV.
• The information that the TV provides is
always accurate.

AGREE
 Warm-
• Up
There are many stereotypes that exist about
people who live in the Middle East.
• People in Iraq have similar hopes, dreams, and fears
to people living in the United States.
• Women who are Muslim have less rights than
women who practice Christianity.

AGREE
Women in Iraq Historically Enjoyed More Freedo
ms
• Throughout much of recent history, Iraq was actually one of the
most progressive countries in the Middle East for women, with
Iraqi women historically enjoying more freedoms than the women
of neighboring countries.
– As early as 1948, women were participating in Iraq’s revolutionary
movement against British influence and monarchy in Iraq.
– The 1959 Law of Personal Status—which came into being thanks to a
mobilization by Iraqi women after the end of British colonial rule—gave
women equal rights to divorce, restricted polygamy, prohibited marriages
under age 18 and ensured that men and women had the same inheritance
rights.
– From the 1950s to the 1970s, Iraqi women
could legally work, study, marry, divorce,
and wear what they wanted.
– As of 1963, the Women’s Iraqi League had
over 40,000 members.
Does it surprise you to hear that women in
Iraq were actually granted more rights
than in
other Middle Eastern countries?

Why do you think it is often assumed that

women in Iraq have always suffered from
a
lack of rights?
Misunderstanding or Stereotyping Religions

• Which type of prayer is most familiar

to you? Unfamiliar to you?
• Why do we sometimes judge,
stereotype, or make
generalizations about that which
is unfamiliar?
 Misunderstanding or Stereotyping
Religions & Culture

• Which of these images contain people dressing

in accordance with their religious beliefs or
cultural practices?
• Which religions may be represented in such
dress?
• Which forms of dress are you most familiar
with? What similarities can you note between
that with which you are familiar and the other
 Understanding
• Islam
Islam is the predominant religion in Iraq and the rest of
the Middle East.
• Islam is the religion articulated by the Qur’an, considered
by believers to be the literal word of God.
• One who practices Islam is a Muslim, meaning "one
who submits [to God].”
• The vast majority of Muslims belong to one of two
major denominations, the Sunni and the Shi'a.
• Hijab is the type of head covering traditionally worn
by Muslim women, but can also refer to modest
Muslim styles of dress in general.
• Muslims differ as to how "hijab dress" should
be enforced.
 Islam and Women
O Mankind
reverence Your
Guardian-Lord Who
created you From a
Single person;
Created of like
nature
His mate, and from them
twain Scattered [like seeds]
Countless men and women

• What is this passage from

the Qur’an saying?
 Islam and Women
• Islam is no more or less repressive to women than other
world religions.
• Islam is considered by many as a very progressive religion
for women, since many Scriptures address the equality of
women and men.
– According to the Koran, men and women are equal before god,
and both sexes share equal rights and responsibilities within the
faith.
– Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual
who reserves the right to own and dispose of her own property
and earnings, and she is permitted to either keep her family name
or adopt her husband’s when she marries.
 Islam and Women
According to many “Islamic feminists,” Islam is actually a very
progressive religion for women, was radically egalitarian for its
time, and remains so in some of its scriptures. They contend that
Islamic law has evolved in ways that are inimical to gender
equality not because it clearly pointed in that direction, but
because of selective interpretation by patriarchal leaders and a
mingling of Islamic teachings with tribal customs and traditions.
Islamic feminists now seek to revive the equality bestowed on
women in the religion’s early years by rereading the Koran,
putting the Scriptures in context, and disentangling them from
tribal practices.
~Isobel Coleman, “Women, Islam, and the
New Iraq”

What message is Coleman trying to convey in this

 Interpretation of Islamic Law
• While the Qur’an has about 80 verses concerning legal issues, many of
which refer to the role of women in society and to important family
issues
(i.e. marriage, divorce, inheritance), other day-to-day issues are
not addressed or are addressed very broadly and thus are
interpreted.
• Sharia is the body of Islamic law that was developed by religious
scholars after the death of the Prophet Muhammad.
– Sharia is meant to provide moral and legal guidance to Muslims and is
based on the Qur’an and the Sunna (recorded traditions or customs of the
Prophet).
– Since Sharia’s prescriptions and prohibitions can be broad, the application
in practice varies.
– Islamic scholars (known as ulama) have elaborated systems of law on the
basis of these rules and their interpretations.
– It is in such interpretations where conservative positions can be applied,
or a more modern notion can be applied.

What can be problematic about such interpretation (in

 Interpretation of Islamic Law
• Interpretation and the imposing of conservative positions on
Islam can result in women’s rights being limited in some cases:
– Both men and women are expected to dress in a simple, modest, and
dignified manner according to Islam, but the dress in some Islamic
countries reflects
local customs more than it does religious principle.
– Likewise, the treatment of women in some areas of the Islamic world reflects
cultural practices that are inconsistent with, if not contrary to, authentic
Islamic teachings.
• While Islamic attitudes on the question of Islam and modern notions
of women’s rights vary, Islamic feminists now seek to revive the
equality bestowed on women in the religion’s early years by
rereading the Koran, putting the Scriptures in context, and
disentangling them from tribal practices.
• “The widespread view that Iraq’s violence, sectarianism, and
systematic erosion of women’s rights is inherent to Muslim or
Iraqi culture just isn’t true. “ ~Nadje Al-Ali, Iraqi feminist
 A Decline of Rights for Iraqi Women
Over Recent Decades
• Each decade in Iraq seems to have become worse than the
previous one in terms of women’s rights.
• Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, the rights afforded to
women were progressively limited each decade.
• While there have been positive outcomes in Iraq since the 2003
US invasion, unfortunately women’s rights have continued to
decline.
• Many Iraqi feminists claim that women are denied more civil
and social rights and been victim to more abuses than they
have in the past 60 years.
• Does this surprise you?
Why or why not?
 The Rise of Saddam Hussein
& the Baath Party
• In 1968, the Baath Party, under President Bakr, seized power in
Iraq.
• Saddam Hussein, a member of the Baath Party, became
Deputy Chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council.
– This position placed him as second in power in the Baath Party
– He was in charge of internal Iraqi security
• By 1973, Hussein was Vice President of Iraq under President
Bakr.
• Throughout the 1970s, Hussein consolidated his power, placing
many family members and people from his hometown in
important positions in the Iraqi government and military.
– Why do you think Saddam Hussein did this?
 The Rise of Saddam Hussein
& the Baath Party
• In 1979, President Bakr resigned under pressure from Hussein,
who then became president.
• Immediately after Hussein’s succession in 1979, he called a Baath
Party meeting and had all of his opposition systematically
murdered.
• As president, Hussein continued to reinforce his power base by
enlarging security forces and employing family members in the
govt.
• It has been estimated that as of 1984, 50 % of Iraqis were
either employed by the government or military or had a
family member who was.
What effect do you think this had on
Iraq’s government?
 Life in Iraq Under Hussein’s Rule
• With 50% of Iraqis working for the government, the
population was intimately connected to and dominated by
Hussein.
• Hussein’s authoritarian regime was a terrible dictatorship
throughout which many human rights atrocities were committed.
• People were tortured and terrorized for over two decades
and hundreds of thousands died as a result of Saddam's
actions.
– Saddam had approximately 40 of his own relatives murdered.
– The war that Saddam waged against Iraq (1980-88 ) left 150,000 to
340,000 Iraqis and 450,000 to 730,000 Iranians dead.
– He waged chemical attacks on Kurdish villages, killing thousands. Human
Rights Watch reported that Saddam's 1987-1988 campaign of terror against
the Kurds killed at least 50,000 and possibly as many as 100,000 Kurds.
– In 2001, Amnesty International reported: "Victims of torture in Iraq are
subjected to a wide range of forms of torture, including the gouging out of
eyes, severe beatings and electric shocks... some victims have died as a result
and many have been left with permanent physical and psychological
Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• While Saddam Hussein committed many atrocities,
initially some of his policies were actually favorable to
women.
– Saddam created a Western-style secular legal system,
making Iraq the only country in the Persian Gulf region not
ruled according to traditional Islamic law (sharia)
• Under this system, to the consternation of Islamic conservatives,
Saddam's government declared that citizens were equal
regardless of sex, blood, language, social origin, or religion.
• The constitution drafted in 1970 guaranteed women the right
to vote, attend school, own property and run for political
office.
• Women held high-level government
and industry jobs.
• As decades passed however, the status of
women under Hussein’s rule became
1970s-
Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• 1970s:
– During the first decade of the Baath Regime (1970s) the
govt. promoted women entering the education sector and
labor force.
– This was not due to any progressive views on the part of the
Hussein regime; it was circumstantial. Iraq was experiencing an
economic boom during this time and thus many jobs were in
need of being filled. Since 50% of Iraq’s population were
women, the government encouraged women to work.
– Hussein’s speeches in the 1970s contain many references to
the “good Iraqi woman” being an educated, working woman.
– Policies were created to help women be successful, such as
free childcare, transportation to/from work or school,
maternity benefits, etc.
1980s-
Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule Decline
• 1980s:
– The onset of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-99) brought about a toughening of
the state’s position towards women.
– On one hand, due to men being away fighting the war, women were
needed even more to enter the workforce and fill the jobs men typically
did.
– However, Hussein’s message changed during the 80s and he began stating
that a woman’s role was to bear children. His speeches now referred to the
“good Iraqi woman” as a good mother to a soldier.
– In 1985, Hussein stated that every woman should have five children and the
government actively tried to increase fertility. For example, mass weddings
would be sponsored by the government, where hundreds of couples would
be married at once.
– Women were having and raising large families and working; they
were expected to be “superwomen.”
Why do you think Hussein’s message changed?
• In general in cases of war, "women carried the conflicting double burden of
being the main motors of the state bureaucracy and the public sector, the
main breadwinners and heads of households but also the mothers of 'future
1990s-
Women’s Rights Continue to Decline
• 1990s:
– The Gulf War/Desert Storm took place from 1990-1991
– Economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq in an
effort to get Hussein to comply. Iraq was blocked
from any
outside resources or assistance, except for medicine and, in
humanitarian circumstances, food items.
– The sanctions (which lasted until 2003) had a devastating impact on Iraq and
have been considered the toughest, most comprehensive sanctions in human
history. It has been argued that the sanctions increased child-and-infant
mortality, poverty, & suffering inflicted on the Iraqi people.
– In an attempt to maintain legitimacy after the Gulf War and appease
conservative patriarchal constituencies in Iraq, Hussein began implementing
anti-woman legislation, such as the 1990 presidential decree granting immunity
to men who had committed “honour" crimes.
– With the legalization of honour killings, Hussein further undermined
women's roles and their social status in the society.
1990s-
Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule
• 1990s (cont.):
– A 60% unemployment rate developed in Iraq and an economic
crisis ensued, which led to greater social conservatism.
– Hussein’s speeches now referred to “good Iraqi women” as being those
who stayed home. The previous resources provided to women were
taken away and women were now expected to stay home and keep
house.
– Due to the various conflicts and wars, 70% of families in Iraq now
had women as the head of the household. Thus, to avoid poverty,
women were often forced into begging or prostitution to care for
their large families.
– A change in women’s dress code occurred in 1990s, with women
expected to dress more conservatively.
Women’s Rights in Iraq
Part II
“The advance of women’s
right s and the advance of
liberty a re ultimately
inseparable.”
President George Bush, 3/14/04
 2003 - Invasion of Iraq
• March 20, 2003 marked the beginning of the Iraq War
(also known as Operation Iraqi Freedom), an invasion led
by troops from the United States and the United
Kingdom.
• Prior to the war, the US and UK claimed that Iraq's
alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) posed a security threat.
• After investigation following the invasion, the US-led Iraq Survey Group
concluded that Iraq had ended its nuclear, chemical, and biological
programs in 1991 and had no active programs at the time of the
invasion, but that the y intended to resume production if the Iraq
sanctions were lifted.
• Some US officials also accused Hussein of harboring and supporting
al-Qaeda, but no evidence of an operation connection was ever found.
• The invasion of Iraq led to an occupation and the capture of Hussein,
who was later executed by the new Iraqi government.
• Violence against coalition forces and among various sectarian groups soon
led to the Iraqi insurgency, strife between many Sunni and Shia Iraqi
 2003 - Invasion of Iraq
• Women in Iraq have suffered and bravely
endured throughout its history of
dictatorship, war, sanctions, etc.
• Initially after the 2003 invasion, Iraq saw
a collapse of normal, every day life.
• The wide scale destruction of the Iraq's
infrastructure (i.e. sanitation, water supply,
and electricity) as a result of war and
sanctions negatively impacted women.
• To survive, women had to assume extra
burdens and domestic responsibilities in
society, as opposed to their male
counterparts.
• For example, when looting and lawlessness
were rampant, it was women who would
mobilize and clean up the looted school or
care for patients at the abandoned hospital.
 Increase in Violence
• As repressive attitudes against women have re-
emerged, atrocities against women have risen.
• Since 2005, violence against Iraqi women has
increased.
– Throughout the US occupation, many women have been injured in violence
related to area bombardments, random shootings, gender specific violence,
verbal & physical harassment during random house searches and
checkpoints.
– Mothers/wives of suspected insurgents have reported being harassed,
with accounts of torture and rape.
– Various rules regarding women have been enforced, such as prohibiting
them from working or driving.
– In late 2004, classrooms at Basrah University were separated by gender;
such a step was previously unheard of.
• Women are also being used to make a statement against the West and
imperialism – (i.e., attitudes such as “We in Iraq will not be like the West
– we will control our women”, which lead to violence against Iraqi
women.)
 Hijab in Iraq – The Veil
• The veil (also referred to as hijab) plays a major role in Muslim culture for
many women in Iraq.
– Some women choose to wear hijab for religious reasons.
– For other women, the veil has lost its significance but is a habit/tradition that they
find difficult to discard and thus choose to continue wearing.
– There are also many women who do not wear hijab by choice, and would rather
dress in a more modern fashion.
• However, according to Iraqi feminist Yanar Mohammed, since 2003 "Iraqi
women have been brutally attacked, kidnapped and intimidated from
participating in the Iraqi society…War and occupation have cost Iraqi women
their legal standing and their everyday freedom of dress and movement".
– Various sectarian groups have thus taken it upon themselves to
enforce the wearing of hijab in a violent way, taking away women’s
choice.
– Many Iraqi women, due to their fear of being raped and harassed, are
having to wear not only a veil but also complete black dress in order
not to attract attention.
– In 2004, leaflets were distributed regarding conservative dress
requirements for women; they were told they must wear
hijab.
 “Honour Killings”
• A so-called “honor killing” occurs when a family feels that their female
relative has tarnished their reputation by what they loosely term “immoral
behavior”.
• This perceived dishonor is normally the result of:
– dress codes unacceptable to the family (not
wearing hijab, wearing make-up, etc.)
– wanting out of an arranged marriage or choosing
to marry by own choice
– being suspected of having engaged in premarital
sex
– being the victim of sexual violence or being
suspected of being such a victim (i.e., rape, incest,
etc.)
• Women in Iraq are kidnapped for sexual exploitation. While many
are murdered, those raped and released are not necessarily safe
since the response of some families has been to kill her.
• The person chosen by the family to carry out the murder (usually male: a
 “Honour
Killings”
• According to calculations by the UN, over five
thousand women are murdered each year in
the name of honor – that is 13 women every
day.
– It is difficult to get exact numbers, since many of these murders go
unreported an d the perpetrators unpunished due to the acts being “justified”
in the name of family honor.
• In its reports on human rights in Iraq, the UN Assistance Mission
for Iraq has regularly highlighted “honour killings” as one of
Iraq’s most serious human rights abuses.
• It has urged the judiciary to send a clear signal that the
killing of women to “protect honour” will not be tolerated.
 Iraq’s New Government
• With the overthrow of Sadaam Hussein in
March 2003, Shiite leaders made it clear that
they expected the “new Iraq” to be an Islamic
state.
• This meant that rather than following secular law (laws not
pertaining to religion), Iraq would be governed by sharia (Islamic
religious law).
• Remember that how sharia plays out for women’s rights is largely based
upon interpretation. Many feminists thus believe the new constitution in
Iraq, with its foundation in Islamic sharia law but more importantly based
on the agenda of those governing, has resulted in women losing the civil
and social rights guaranteed to men.
• For example, in December 2003, the conservative Iraqi Governing
Council (appointed by the US) decided to abolish the Personal Status
Law.
– Resolution 137, which canceled Iraq’s existing family laws and placed such issues under
the rules of sharia
– The Resolution was very vague and implied that each Islamic community could
impose its own rules on issues such as marriage, divorce, and other important family
 Representation of Women
• In the Spring of 2004, a Delegation of Iraqi Women
noted that women had been instrumental in keeping
the city together throughout war and sanctions and
demanded representation in the new government.
• The women lobbied for a quota requiring 40% representation in all
of Iraq’s government institutions, they were granted 25%.
– While such representation is a step in the right direction, in practice it is
not implemented on all levels of government.
– Likewise, Iraqi women’s activists have questioned who the
women representatives actually are.
– Initially, the representatives were the wives and daughters of conservative
male politicians; most had never been involved in politics before and were
not concerned about women’s rights.
– During the first years they were part of Parliament the
women representatives literally followed the lead of male
voters.
– However, some women representatives have started to develop their own
views and challenge male politicians.
– How does a 25% representation of women’ in Iraq’s government compare
 Votin
• g
As “democracy” was implemented in Iraq, images of success, such
as women casting votes in Iraq’s elections, were shown around
the world.
• However, many Iraqi feminists maintained that this was NOT
the beginning of true democracy.
• They contended that women voting may have been a symbol of
hope, but that in actuality many didn’t know who or what they
were voting for.

• What can be done to help Iraqi

women be educated voters and
ensure the principles of
democracy are reached?
 Listen…
Iraqi Women Face Greater Danger, Fewer Rights
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18518858
 Progres
• Women’s organizationssstrive to help improve the rights
of women in Iraq and assist those being persecuted.
– The Organization of Women's Freedom has set up a network of women's
shelters, along with a kind of Iraqi Underground Railroad, to protect women
who have been abused or become targets of "honor killings.“ Many of the
employees have had to leave the country due to death threats, but the
organization continues to fight for women’s rights.
• Despite threats, the Iraqi Women’s Network still has over
80 women’s organizations who work
across ethnic and religious
differences to improve the
rights and lives of Iraqi
women.
 Progres
• s of progress and hope coming out of Iraq.
There are encouraging stories
Iraq’s infrastructure and economy is being rebuilt and humanitarian
assistance and charities are promoting the health and well-being of Iraqi
people.
• The US can also play a constructive role in assisting Iraqi women, such as:
– Aid Iraqi women’s groups
– Support Iraqi business women
– Support the education of Iraqi women (“female education may be the best
way to advance the status of women”)
– Assist with judicial reform in Iraq (i.e., training judges, especially
women, in modern Islamic jurisprudence)
– To help women defend their rights, educate Iraqis about what their rights are –
both under the new Constitution and sharia

Why is knowing what your rights are an important step in

defending yourself?
Which of the above do you think has the most potential in improving
the situation of Iraq’s women?
 Resource
Audio Recordings s
What Kind of Liberation? Women and Iraq: http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2009/0909.html
Status of Women in Iraq, Part I: Baghdad: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3375003
Iraqi Women Face Greater Danger, Fewer Rights: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18518858
Iraqi Women's-Rights Activist Yanar Mohammed: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18183959&ps=rs
In Iraq, Activist Struggles as Women's Rights Shrink
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10543975&ps=rs Iraqi Women Fight for Rights in New Constitution:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4785286&ps=rs Concern Grows over Iraqi 'Honor Killings‘:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5043032

Articles
Shattering Illusions: Western Conceptions of Muslim Women : http://www.jannah.org/sisters/shatter.html
An Islamic Perspective on Violence Against Women:
http://www.mwlusa.org/topics/violence&harrassment/violence.html Wave Of Violence’ Against Women In Iraq
Undercuts White House’s Claims Of Success: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/24/women-iraq/
Hidden victims of a brutal conflict: Iraq's women:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/oct/08/iraq.peterbeaumont Four Arrested in Iraq Honor Killing:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/18/iraq.honorkilling/index.html The battle against brutality:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/28/iraq-women-rights-us-news
We have not been liberated: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/mar/06/iraqiwomensempowermentunder
Women's rights at risk in Iraq: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/16/MNG3S4BAUP1.DTL&type=printable
Fighting for women's rights in Iraq:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/06/26/pysk.mohammed/index.html The Talibanization of Iraq:
http://www.msmagazine.com/spring2007/taliban.asp
Restoring Peace & Hope to the Women of Iraq:
http://www.womenforwomen.org/global-initiatives-helping-women/help-women-iraq.php
Saddam wasn't a feminist.: http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110008230
Coleman, Isobel. “Women, Islam, and the New Iraq.” Foreign Affairs.