January 16, 2004
What are Iraqi Women Facing?
Republican pundits often bandy about the assertion that “Iraq is better off” after last year’s U.S. invasion. Yet Iraqi women are in peril of this not being the case when we hand over the political reins in June.
Currently, under American stewardship, there is a fantastic opportunity for the initial creation of an Iraqi government to include fair female representation, yet that opportunity thus far has not been realized. Women make up anywhere between 50-65% of the population of Iraq ( post-war figures vary a bit), yet only 3 were appointed to the group of 25 comprising the Interim Governing Council (IGC).
One has to wonder what sort of intimidation tactics these 3 were under to agree to the recent decision to rescind existing family laws (ranging from the prohibition of marriage under age 18 to the prevention of 'arbitrary divorce') and replace them with sharia family laws.
Depending on interpretation, this could allow men to have multiple wives, cause inheritance issues, and the aforementioned ability for men to divorce their wives at will.
I am glad to hear Iraqi women are protesting, but I fear their voices will be lost. They are lobbying for representation not only on the IGC, but in the writing of the interim Constitution (of which no women have a hand), and in local positions of power. So far, even with a U.S. presence, these matters are not improving; indeed, in light of recent proposals, it easily could become worse, and soon.
Now that the U.S. is involved (setting aside for the moment validity questions of being there in the first place), the 'unoccupation' of Iraq has to be handled very delicately, with a firm plan- and taking into consideration the downstream effects of a quick, arbitrary pull-out of forces.
Otherwise, we could be condemning these women to a life not unlike that Afghani women faced under the Taliban.
Posted by tamsen at January 16, 2004 03:26 AMSo now the Left thinks US involvement in Iraq was a good thing. Interesting. Fun keeping up with the flip flops and various machinations the Leftinistas go through. Thanks for the entertainment! :)
Posted by: Jeff at January 16, 2004 08:42 AMJeff- I read Tamsen to be saying that post-war Iraq could actually be worse for women. Regardless, there is a difference between flip-flopping and making the best of a situation you would not have chosen to be in.
Incidentally, my understanding is that an American can get divorced without providing any substantive grounds (unless you count “irreconcilable differences”.) Of course, that is true for women as well as men…
Posted by: Woody Mena at January 16, 2004 10:03 AMActually, this member of the “Left” is Not saying that, hence this paragraph:
Now that the U.S. is involved (setting aside for the moment validity questions of being there in the first place), the ‘unoccupation’ of Iraq has to be handled very delicately, with a firm plan- and taking into consideration the downstream effects of a quick, arbitrary pull-out of forces.
Now that we Are there, and have changed things, we have to handle the rest well or lest we earn certain monikers we’ve been saddled with since this war.
Posted by: tamsen at January 16, 2004 10:06 AMIt was irresponsible to invade Iraq. That’s history. Now we are responsible for building the regime that will take the place of Hussein’s. Will Bush once again demonstrate American irresponsibility, or, will he live up to his promise to bring democracy and a non-oppressive government to life for the Iraqi people?
I believe Bush wants to act responsibly in this regard. I believe Bush also wants to be reelected. If reelection depends upon pulling out of Iraq before the job is done, which will he choose as more important? The answer to that is not so clear.
Posted by: David R. Remer at January 16, 2004 12:15 PMI believe there is only one way to change societal behavior - live your life as an example as best you can and allow others to learn from you. I don’t believe Americans can liberate Iraqis any more than a bird can teach an elephant to fly. Only Iraqis can liberate Iraqis, same goes for the Iraqi women. Removing an oppressor is not liberation, liberation requires a societal decision to not be oppressed - a declaration of one’s independence. Otherwise, they are going to live by the same values that allowed Saddam to rise to power in the first place.
Your point does have merit, Tamsen, but it’s not our responsibility to liberate others - it’s theirs and only theirs.
