Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Marcia indietro per i diritti delle donne in Irak ?

Articolo interessante, un ulteriore elemento per la valutazione
dell'intervento militare.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4715051.stm
Iraqi women fear for their rights
By Caroline Hawley
BBC News, Baghdad
Women's groups in Iraq are stepping up a campaign to try to ensure that
the country's constitution does not restrict their rights.
With the approach of the 15 August deadline for completing the new
constitution, the role of women in society has become a political
battlefield.
It pits secular Iraqis against newly powerful religious parties who
want a greater role for Islam written into the document.
"There's very little time left," says Maysoon al-Damluji, president of
the Iraqi Independent Women's Group.
"I'm not sure we'll succeed. But we have to keep fighting."
Last week, around 200 women demonstrated in central Baghdad, in the
square where Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled, demanding full
equality.
Activists have also been busy lobbying members of the committee drawing
up the constitution.
Saddam-era rights
Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq had some of the most secular legislation in
the region.
But all that could change, with hardline Shia members of the national
assembly pushing for the country to be named the Islamic Republic of
Iraq.
Dr Amal Kashif al Ghitaq (L) and Dr Sallama al-Khafaj, both MPs and
members of the committee charged with drafting a new Iraqi constitution
The committee drafting the constitution includes many women
"We are worried that the interpretation of Sharia law will take us
backward and that people will think that, regarding women, the era of
Saddam Hussein was better," Ms Damluji says.
A strict interpretation of Islamic law would mean that the evidence of
a woman in court would count for only half that of a man.
And women would have significantly less say in matters of marriage and
divorce.
"We believe in equality between men and women," says Amal Moussa, a
member of the Shia coalition that took the most seats in January's
elections.
"But it is a limited equality. There are Islamic rules that regulate
the family and society, and women and men have different rights and
duties."
Polygamy, permissible in Islamic law, has now become a hot political
issue.
"Under the current Iraqi law a man has to get the consent of his first
wife to marry a second," says activist Hanaa Edwar. "But I feel
religious elements are now trying to encourage polygamy."
Another major concern for women's groups is a proposal to phase out a
quota system - guaranteeing women a quarter of seats in parliament -
which has given Iraqi women more representation than in many other
countries in the world.
Women now make up a third of the members of the national assembly
elected in January but their representation in future parliaments is
likely to decrease dramatically if the quota is removed.
Activists were also up in arms against proposals to have separate Shia
Sunni and Christian courts to deal with family matters, although
Western diplomats say some later drafts of the constitution may have
dropped this clause.
Human-rights conventions
"We are a pluralist society and this constitution will determine our
future," Ms Edwar says.
"It is crucial for us. We cannot allow it to move us backwards and make
a mockery of conventions that Iraq has signed on human rights."
Secular women in Iraq have been through a difficult two years, with
relentless violence keeping more and more women indoors and many
feeling growing pressure to wear the veil.
"Things have got worse even since last year," says Rafif, a 28-year old
bank auditor attending a recent conference on women and the
constitution.
"I'm now afraid to drive my car. I've changed where I study and work so
that I can be nearer to home. But we women have got to get out of the
house if we're going to change things."
But many fear they could be fighting a losing battle over the
constitution.
"I am worried," says Yannar Muhammad, a prominent activist who runs a
shelter for abused women. "I think the future of women in Iraq is very
bleak."


Alla fine Saddam non ha messo nessuna bomba, era un laico, era un Mussolini
arabo, ha fatto meno morti di certi Nobel per la pace.
I terroristi vengono da Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Pakistan, tutte dittature
medioevali islamiche.
Fa pensare che Islam e Media\Power vadano a braccetto.
Saluti Cad Ali'
--
Dalla sura * della Conversione*..............
"Combattete coloro che non credono in Allah e nell'Ultimo Giorno, che non
vietano quello che Allah e il Suo Messaggero hanno vietato, e quelli, tra la
gente della Scrittura  che non scelgono la religione della verità, finchè
non versino umilmente il tributo, e siano soggiogati" (Sura 9:29).
"Se non vi lancerete nella lotta, Allah vi castigherà con doloroso castigo e
vi sostituirà con un altro popolo, mentre voi non potrete nuocergli in
nessun modo" (Sura 9:39).
"Uccidete gli idolatri ovunque li troviate, fateli prigionieri, assediateli
e combatteteli con ogni genere di tranelli" (Corano 9,5).
"Combatti quelli che non credono in Allah... combattete finchè non paghino
con umiliazione il tributo" (Corano 9,29).