Rega Raulf of OWFI on the plight of women in Iraq

You’re all aware of the terrible attacks that have been committed in Iraq during the last time. People’s life and security is in danger. The situation is becoming worse and worse. The people is suffering, there is no electricity, salaries are not paid, the schools lack material and is often closing. There is an acute lack of clean water and food and further more there are not sufficient supplies of medicine for women, children or victims of war and terrorist attacks. In this desperate situation Islamic terrorist groups is growing like mushrooms. They threaten ordinary people’s lives and the modern in society, and especially the liberties and rights of women.

There is no legal security and society is taken aback before the threat of chaos and lawlessness. The transition government in Iraq is a mix of the most conservative and anti modern groups in the country. It consists of Kurds, Sunni- and Shia Muslims, Christians etc.

This composition is reinforcing the antagonism and deepening the gaps between people. This government does not origin from free and public elections; it has been forced on the Iraqi people by USA and its allies. The governments’ first decree implies Sharia-laws. This is going to have terrible consequences for the people in general and for women in particular. They want Iraq, like Iran, Afghanistan etc, to be governed by Islam. This means amongst other: gender apartheid, obligatory veil (hijab), polygamous marriages, stoning of women, forced marriages for under aged girls, executions and total abolishment of the modern and secular society.

Last month four women were assassinated in Basra because they were on their way to work. Almost every day corps of assassinated women is found in the streets of the cities. In Baghdad a woman was strung up in a tree and shot to death because she had an amorous relationship without being married. During tree months’ after the attack on Iraq last year almost 400 women disappeared, was kidnapped or murdered only in Baghdad. The women of Iraq don’t dare to go out without veil. Islamic groups is visiting schools and universities, threatening women and girls and forcing them to ware veil. The women of Iraq are stricken twofold; first because of nationality and second because of sex.

We, The Organization of Women Liberation of Iraq, are opposing the Islamic force. We will not accept that Iraq is becoming another hell for women. We are working for the enforcement of woman rights. We oppose the terror against women. We fight for equality between the sexes. Despite the fact that our activists are threatened to death by the Islamic groups, we have opened the only shelter for abused women in Iraq. We are present and active in media throughout the world. Our voice is heard in USA, the Middle East and Europe. Our members are working in families, schools, courts, in the streets and places of work. We are keeping the debate alive. We want to set focus on women situation and offer a radical solution to the problem.