Our Objections to the Policies of Ahmad Al-Chalabi

 The first: is against his political opportunism that reflects in his suspicious alliances - in other words – his methodology that is based upon association with whoever had any role inside Iraq; be it Ba’athis, previous intelligence, or Islamists, all of which gain the approval of American supervision because they make sure that Iraqi people’s social and economic status are at their worst possible standards.

This was the major implication of his political speech; that is, how to find the suitable key people to seat on the American negotiation table. Furthermore, it was no mere coincidence that he does not mention the sufferings of people in Iraq except by a few trivial and swift remarks.

 The second: is connected to the issue of lifting the economic sanctions, which was a marginal part of his speech, the reasons for which are quite obvious. His political message addresses only the exploiters’ class that benefit from opening the Iraqi market for free trade. These Bourgeoisies did and will not suffer from any poverty or starvation resulting from economic sanctions. As for the working class and the people deprived from opportunity of work or of petty living, in Chalabi’s agenda, such population are no more than mere fuel for future wars or battles that could lead him or someone else to the throne of Iraq.

 Iraqi Women’s Aspirations in an Iraq ruled by Chalabi

Women cannot possibly have any hope of better status under a rule that reached to power over the sufferings of half a million mothers watching their babies die in their arms because of economic sanctions supported by Chalabi and his notorious gang.

Furthermore, his political agenda has no mention or any recognition of women’s rights in Iraq where the civil law still treats women as second-rate citizens. In spite of his claims of planning for a democratic Iraq where all people are equal under the rule of law, there is no mention of keeping 50% of the people (the women) suffering because of a civil law that keeps them inferior to men by legal rights, by intellectual and rational ability (as the Qura’an saying goes…inferior in mental ability and religious aptitude)…and as a result, these women are deprived of the right to their fates and their bodies. As for political rights, those are far-fetched within such a political agenda.

 Last, but not least, Chalabi announce his blessed alliance with religious leaderships from the Da’awa Party (fundamentalist Shiites) and also Al-Majlis Al-A’ala (The higher council- another Islamic group) in a plan to make them part of the future ruling coalition of Iraq. A Plot that eliminates all hopes in an egalitarian modern future for women in Iraq … On the contrary, all of this sounds like an invitation to dark medieval ages similar to another Islamic Republic of Iran.

Yanar Mohammed – Defence of Iraqi Women’s Rights – DIWR Toronto