Nadia Speech at a Meeting on 19^th June 03

Dear Friends.

Thank you so much for inviting me to speak to you today; and thank you Indira for organising this meeting.

I am here today to share with you, my deep concern, my anger, and my hope to change women’s situation in Iraq.

I do not want to speak about women situation in Saddam’s regime; every body knows about the 35 years of bloody dictatorship; the 3 wars, and the 13 years of economic sanctions - it was a real hell!

I do not want to speak about the heavy burden women face due the lack of electricity, water, lack of food, and lack of employment opportunities.

I do not want to speak about women’s contribution in “ Reconstruction” as described by the UK and US governments.

What I want to share with you today is that:

After 70 days since Saddam’s regime collapse, women are starting to whisper to each other, they say “if the situation goes on like this, we will pack up and leave Iraq”, “we cannot live in another new Afghanistan or new Iran”.

Now women are not living in the same circumstances they were under Saddam, - in fact we hear that the situation for women is getting worse!

Now, you cannot see women alone in the streets. Women cannot walk with out been guarded by men.

300 raped women been found just in one hospital alone - that was Al –Yarmook hospital!

The news we have received from Iraq says that female secondary school students feel unable to go to schools because of the lack of security, unless families guard them and take them to and from schools like we are doing with our junior pupils.

I have been told that in a secondary school in west Baghdad the parents have arranged to have 5 men, fathers or male relatives to guard the school while their daughters are in their classes, to protect the girls from being kidnapped.

Where is the Security?

What are the US occupying forces doing to protect our women?

Is this situation what the UN wanted to see happen in Iraq, when they authourised US occupation?

Most dangerously, we are worried about the attack on women’s rights by Islamic groups in the new situation in Iraq:

Islamic groups are trying to take advantages of the political Vacuum to impose their policies.

I would like you to listen to these quotes:

“Women who don't wear the veil won't be served when they go shopping;” - this is the same instruction as is practiced in North Tehran in Iran!

“Taxis won't pick them up” and “they might have eggs and rotten tomatoes thrown at them”.

“I do not consider the difference between Muslim or Christian women, all of them should veiled, but the Punishment of Muslim women is harder”.

That is what the 31-year-old Sheikh Mohammed Fartusi has said in mosques in Baghdad and other cities in Iraq during the last 2 months.

Al- fartusi also said women cannot walk in Al –Kathmai city not veiled,  - Just imagine - Al –Kathmai is one of the biggest Shopping Centres in Baghdad!

The Islamic groups went to Al –Basra University, to hospitals, to secondary schools, they wrote on the walls “wear veils” or stay at home!

Now, our women – that is - women who are defending women’s rights in Iraq and exposing the current violations of women’s rights through the media, have themselves been threatened. In some mosques, it has been said that ‘these women want to bring western liberties which threaten our society’. They said that the “one liberty” we should only consider, is “the freedom to obey God’s instruction”. 

When we speak about all these dangerous threats to women, some argue ‘why do you criticize? Is it not now better than in Saddam’s time?’ – they want us to remain silent.

Is it right that we should not to expect any thing, and accept all that is going on?

We strongly believes that continuation of occupation on the one hand, and the full support of the occupation forces for the heads of tribes, religious leaders, ethnic community leaders, will result in a horrendous state for women.

Women were and are the first victims in Saddams regime and now after occupation.

To get out of this impasse we have called in our statements for the immediate withdrawal of the U.S. and British troops for an end to the occupation.

We called for the intervention of the UN to create a safe environment for people to be able to choose their representatives to supervise the election process.

But we were so disappointed with the resolution 1483, where the UN decided to step to one side and let things going on with out their influence.

While we were discussing resolution 1325, we did not know that we were just wasting our time.

I hold the US occupation and the UN accountable for the threat those women in Iraq are facing now.

We have to stand shoulder to shoulder with Iraqi women. They are starting to stand and organise themselves, they are working to make their voice heard, and change the situation.

You are the people who I could ask to get their support.

Speak to you later.