| Reports that Iraq's draft constitution could give Islamic | | | | 2003, most women and girls in Iraq had been pushed |
| law a powerful role in society have sparked strong | | | | back to their traditional roles in the home. |
| reactions by women's groups, who fear the move will | | | | The 2003 invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein gave |
| greatly curb women's rights. | | | | new hope to women seeking to rejuvenate |
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| affordable rates. | | | | Jinan al-Rubaie, a religious Shi'ite member of the |
| Ignoring the wilting summer heat, about three dozen | | | | National Assembly, does not believe Islamic laws |
| Iraqi women gathered at a busy intersection in the | | | | pushed women back into the home. She says people |
| capital last week, demanding Western-style women's | | | | should not confuse age-old traditions with what Islamic |
| rights in the new constitution. | | | | Sharia really is. |
| Dressed in short-sleeved blouses with hair flying boldly | | | | Ms. Rubaie says that, according to the Koran, women |
| in the wind, some of the protesters handed out flyers | | | | should not be forced to do certain things against their |
| to passing motorists and pedestrians. | | | | will. She says this includes that no one should shout at |
| Others were more modestly-dressed, with their heads | | | | her and that women should be respected at all times. |
| tightly wrapped in Muslim scarves called hijabs. They | | | | She says there are customs that deny certain rights |
| waved white banners which read, "We want to be | | | | to women, but that is not according to Islamic law. |
| equal to everybody. We refuse to be second-class | | | | Ms. Rubaie argues that Sharia will give Iraqi women |
| citizens." | | | | greater freedom to choose her way of life. Switching |
| The demonstration was in response to reports that | | | | to English, she bristled at suggestions that an Iraqi |
| Shi'ite Muslim members of the committee drafting Iraq's | | | | version of Sharia will impose oppressive rules, similar to |
| new constitution are pushing for Islam to be the major | | | | what the ultra-fundamentalist Taleban regime imposed |
| source for law in Iraq. Shi'ites are the majority in Iraq | | | | on women in Afghanistan. |
| and dominate the 71 member committee, mostly made | | | | Taliban's strict interpretation of the Koran forbade |
| up of legislators elected in January. | | | | women from going to school or working, showing any |
| The head of the Baghdad-based Women's Freedom | | | | part of her face and body, and appearing in public |
| in Iraq Movement, Yanar Mohammed, says she is | | | | without being escorted by a male relative. |
| particularly alarmed about reports that the committee | | | | "They are mistaken. The Taleban, they prevented |
| would take matters like marriage, divorce and | | | | teaching women. Now, we are making it obligatory for |
| inheritance away from the courts and and put them in | | | | women to be in schools," she said. "Taleban prevented |
| the hands of clerics. | | | | women from going outside their houses. Now, we are |
| She says women in Iraq should not be forced to | | | | saying that it is open for women to go outside for |
| accept the imposition of Islamic laws, known as Sharia. | | | | work. We are so much different from Taleban, it |
| "We are being forced to turn into something like | | | | cannot be compared." |
| Afghanistan of the Taleban, where Islamic Sharia rules, | | | | This is not the first time since the fall of Saddam that |
| where a man can have four women in marriage, | | | | religious conservatives have tried to get Islamic Sharia |
| where he can marry female children, where domestic | | | | to play a constitutional role in women's affairs. Last |
| abuse is a right for a man to discipline his wife, and | | | | year, efforts to make Sharia the main source of |
| even where adultery is punishable by killing," said Yanar | | | | legislation in the interim constitution were shelved, |
| Mohammed. | | | | following protests from women's groups and the |
| After seizing power in 1968, the secular Ba'ath Party | | | | United States. |
| of Saddam Hussein embarked on a program of | | | | Ms. Mohammed of the Women's Freedom in Iraq |
| achieving rapid economic growth. Millions of women | | | | movement says the women of Iraq will never give up |
| were needed in the work force, so the party enacted | | | | their demand for secular rights. |
| a series of education, labor and employment laws, | | | | "A constitution is a political body that regulates people's |
| aimed at improving women's status in society. | | | | relationship with the state. Why should it have religion? |
| By 1976, it was estimated that women constituted | | | | Why don't people practice their religion in mosques? |
| nearly 39 percent of all teachers, 31 percent of | | | | That's the question," she said. "I think I will have the final |
| doctors, 25 percent of lab technicians, 15 percent of | | | | say because I represent most of the freedom-loving |
| accountants and 15 percent of civil servants in Iraq. | | | | people in Iraq and a constitution that will reflect their |
| The number of working women in Iraq continued to | | | | aspirations will be secular, will be egalitarian, will be |
| grow, until the 1991 Gulf War. The country's defeat in | | | | non-nationalist." |
| that war also marked a major setback for Iraqi | | | | A Christian member of the Iraqi National Assembly, |
| women. | | | | Jacklin Zomaya, says that a showdown is brewing |
| In a bid to bolster his weakened regime, Saddam | | | | between secular and religious women here, which she |
| Hussein played up to conservative religious leaders | | | | predicts will further divide the country. |
| and their followers by embracing Islamic and tribal | | | | Ms. Zomaya says the Iraqi debate over what |
| traditions and ignoring many women's rights laws | | | | constitutes women's rights is threatening to tear some |
| passed by his own Ba'ath Party. | | | | communities apart. "This is a serious problem and no |
| United Nations sanctions imposed after the war also | | | | one seems to have a solution right now," she says |
| had a major impact on Iraqi females because poor | | | | with a sigh. |
| families often chose to keep their daughters at home, | | | | The committee writing Iraq's new constitution has a |
| rather than enrolling them in school. | | | | deadline of August 15 to finish its work. If it fails, the |
| By the time Saddam Hussein was ousted, in April, | | | | National Assembly can ask for a six-month extension. |