About Women and Democracy in Iraq

Iraq’s Oppressed Majority

By Yanar Mohammed

In response to: Iraq's Hidden Treasure

By RAJA HABIB KHUZAI and SONGUL CHAPOUK

(women members of the Governing Council in Iraq)

Democracy in our vision is granting equal rights to all in a society, especially the exploited and the oppressed. In Iraq, women fall under both categories.

Democracy is achieved when the law grants women (currently 60% of the society) equal rights with their fellow men. Democracy wins when women are liberated from the inferior position and submissiveness they are pushed into in every step of their daily life ; in their family lives, in matters concerning marriage, divorce, and being overloaded with children with no source of support.

Democracy wins when legislations grants equality and power to women, defending them against every minor detail that pushes them into subordination.

Women cannot be equal to men if the law still allows a man to marry four women (a practice almost abandoned a decade back, now flourishing under women’s economic need and severe deprivation)- allowed under current law in Iraq. Women cannot be empowered if the law justifies physical violence with women by their own husbands (article 41-Criminal law111). Women definitely cannot be strong if matters of their personal lives (relationships) can be legal reason to kill a woman (article 409-criminal law 111).

Lately, NYT has published articles for some who think that women’s rights can be achieved by having one or more extra ladies in the Governing Council. Furthermore, the writer goes into detail comparing the female quota in advanced countries to those in Iraq.

A friendly reminder to all, women are where they are in the west because of a long struggle to change legislation that had imposed a status where she is almost equal to man in rights and responsibilities – socially, legally and economically.

In post-war Iraq, there was chaos, kidnappings and rapings of hundreds of women, and unprecedented trafficking of women for very cheap prices. All are matters that may run out of control in war zones. Still, there were some issues that show clearly the intention for women’s future in this new era.

The Coalition Provisional Authorities were keen to bring about immediate ammendments to the law concerning political issues (concerning Previous Baathists). Simultaneously, they were very careful no to consider any changes on articles affecting women’s lives and well-being. Neither Paul Bremer nor his Governing Council (including the women) mentioned any ammendments on the articles that support honour killing of women, or the articles that justify physical abuse by male relatives. It did not occur to any of the women who were racing for those seats in the GC, how humiliating it is for other women who have to share one man in a house(the richer the man is, the more wives he can get).

What difference does it make eventually, how many women are on a Puppet Governing Council, when all the policies of this council are determined to keep women degraded and humiliated in Iraq?

To my fellow Iraqi women some of whom wrote the previous articles, I can only advise that our women’s movement should not expect to be given any charity handouts from Paul Bremer and his most backward council.

The few women on that council whom we only see on TV appear veiled in a loud and clear message to all women in Iraq …

Stay under the veil …it is not time for liberties yet.

Yanar Mohammed

Founder of Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Editor-in-Chief of Al Mousawat (Equality) Newspaper for women            

Yanar2002@hotmail.com