The current Iraqi Constitution draft could deny women the right to vote. This is just one more reason why George Bush’s claim that Iraq is a democracy is a myth.
Here is a description of the law in question:
Iraq’s existing laws regarding women’s rights are some of the most progressive in the Middle East, guaranteeing women the right to vote, attend school, run for political office, and own property. But Article 14 of the new draft constitution aims to replace these laws with Islamic Sharia law – which could dramatically affect women’s rights in marriage, court, education and the political system. The draft constitution also does not guarantee Iraqi women a substantial representation in Parliament, as the current interim constitution does.
There are many different interpretations of Sharia, some of which can be interpreted as giving women equality. But the problem is, most Middle Eastern countries do not interpret it as such. Saudi Arabia is a prime example.
The Women’s Alliance for a Democratic Iraq is working to ensure that Sharia is only one of many interpretations:
Speaking July 25 at a National Press Club forum on women’s rights, Basma Fakri, co-founder and president of the Women’s Alliance For a Democratic Iraq (WAFDI) expressed concern that the constitutional process, "threatens to be enveloped by gender related bias … [which] has no place in a country striving to be a model of openness and rightness."
As I stated above, there are many different interpretations of Sharia. And that is exactly the fear — the fear of the unknown that these women fear. The type of Sharia being enforced in Basra, for instance, is a regressive version, with gangs of thugs making death threats against violators of their version.
A women’s convention in Baghdad drafted the following statement:
"After discussing the issue of women in the Iraqi draft constitution which has been recently put forward for national dialogue, a group of Iraqi women that represents Iraqi societal spectrum, agreed on the need for guaranteeing women rights in the constitution as an essential part of guaranteeing human rights of all members of Iraqi society, and to achieve the principle of equality for all, irrespective of gender, race, religion, sect, or any other consideration outside the principle of citizenship."
But all the words in the world are meaningless if they are circumvented by mob rule, as is happening in Basra, or by the arrest and torture of dissidents like Khalid.
Respect for law has been sorely lacking, as evidenced by Rove’s treason. So, how can we be a moral authority to Iraq and expect them to have a respect for law over there, when our own elected officials show such blatant disregard for law and order?
And here are some other examples of possible ugly scenarios:
Some interpretations allow for men to beat their wives, give men more inheritance rights than women, and consider a woman’s testimony to be worth less than a man’s when it comes to legal disputes.
Working drafts have given a strong role to Islamic law and equal rights for men and women but only as long as equality does not violate Shariah law. That means women would take a back seat in personal matters like divorce. Drafts of the constitution have also dropped requirements that women hold a quarter of the seats in Parliament.
And the LA Times reports that women’s rights were stronger under Saddam than they are now:
Today, few Iraqi women would dare to wear such an outfit. Most cover their arms to the wrist. Only wisps of hair stray from their head scarves. Skirts are often nearly ankle-length.
Jinan Mubarak looked down at the photograph and shook her head.
"I can’t wear what my mother was wearing at that time. It’s really sad," she said. "Women had better conditions then. Now, they are challenged every day."
And the Bush administration has failed to speak out against these human rights outrages, even though the possibility exists that womens rights will get even worse in Iraq than they were under Saddam. It is clear that Bush is scared to be seen being too vocal about women’s rights for fear of offending Emperor Dobson and his crew.
You can sign a petition asking that Condolezza Rice speak out against these outrages here.
