Women’s Rights in Women’s Rights in IraqIraq

Power Point to accompany the Consortium’s lesson,

Women’s Rights in IraqAvailable in the Database of Civic Resources

Warm-UpWarm-Up

AGREE DISAGREE

• I have traveled to 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.

Warm-UpWarm-Up

AGREE DISAGREE

• 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.

Women in Iraq Historically Enjoyed Women in Iraq Historically Enjoyed More FreedomsMore Freedoms

• 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.

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 Misunderstanding or Stereotyping ReligionsReligions

• 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 Misunderstanding or Stereotyping Religions & CultureReligions & 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 images?

• 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 and WomenIslam and Women

Interpretation of Islamic Interpretation of Islamic LawLaw

• 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.

– 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 all

religions)?

A Decline of Rights for Iraqi A Decline of Rights for Iraqi Women Women

Over Recent DecadesOver 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.

The Rise of Saddam Hussein The Rise of Saddam Hussein & the Baath Party& 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?

• 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?

The Rise of Saddam Hussein The Rise of Saddam Hussein & the Baath Party& the Baath Party

• 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.

1980s-1980s- Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Women’s Rights Under Hussein’s Rule DeclineRule Decline

• 1990s:– The Gulf War/Desert Storm took place from 1990-1991– 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-1990s-Women’s Rights Continue to DeclineWomen’s Rights Continue to Decline

Women’s Rights in Women’s Rights in IraqIraq

Part IIPart II

2003 - Invasion of Iraq2003 - 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 they 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.

Increase in ViolenceIncrease 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.)

Iraq’s New GovernmentIraq’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).

– 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 matters

• Why do you think Resolution 137 worried women’s groups?

Representation of WomenRepresentation 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%.– How does a 25% representation of women’ in Iraq’s government compare to

representation of women in the US government?

ResourcesAudio RecordingsWhat Kind of Liberation? Women and Iraq: http://www.radioproject.org/archive/2009/0909.htmlStatus of Women in Iraq, Part I: Baghdad: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3375003Iraqi 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=rsIraqi Women Fight for Rights in New Constitution: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4785286&ps=rsConcern Grows over Iraqi 'Honor Killings‘: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5043032 ArticlesShattering 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.aspRestoring Peace & Hope to the Women of Iraq: http://www.womenforwomen.org/global-initiatives-helping-women/help-women-iraq.phpSaddam wasn't a feminist.: http://www.opinionjournal.com/federation/feature/?id=110008230 Coleman, Isobel. “Women, Islam, and the New Iraq.” Foreign Affairs.