Secular Iraq Women Take Up the Head Scarf

[RedEarth]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Mayada Chazi does not think of herself as particularly religious. She's more interested in talking about boys, reading English novels, or dreaming of visiting New York. But she has taken to wearing the head scarf of a devout Muslim woman.


AP Photo



Many women who bared their heads and dressed in Western-style clothes in Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s secular Iraq (news - web sites) have started covering up — some out of Islamic devotion, others in a desperate bid to shield themselves from the torrent of violence that has swept the country since the dictator's fall.


Wrapped in scarfs and cloaks, the ghostlike figures shrink into the background, barely noticed as they drift past the bomb craters, sandbagged checkpoints and blast walls along Baghdad's chaotic streets.


Chazi's Muslim family grew up in a predominantly Christian neighborhood of Baghdad. Their mother was a stylish dresser who eschewed head scarves for herself and her three daughters. But when Chazi returned to her university English course after the U.S. invasion, her father insisted she cover her hair to avoid drawing attention — particularly from the gangs that have turned kidnapping into a lucrative profession.


Chazi did so under protest, pairing a sparkly blue scarf with a long jeans skirt, tight red shirt and blue nail polish on her fingers and toes.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041006/ap_on_re_mi_ea/veiling_iraq&e=2&ncid=

[stanwyck]

1. Maybe Cheney could take notice

since he painted such a rosy picture for Iraqi women last night at the debates. He didn't mention the rise in "honor kilings" of Iraqi women with the rise of fundamentalism during the chaos of occupation. No, Cheney spoke of women walking freely down the streets, attending schools.
I think Mr. Cheney needs to visit Iraq. No deferments this time.

[OKNancy]

3. I think he was talking about Afghanistan

but who know? THey do mix them up all the time.

[stanwyck]

5. You're right

he was talking about Afghanistan. I must have been Cheney-ized from watching him.

[patricia92243]

2. But, but, but --I thought we "liberated" them :(

[MADem]

4. We liberated them, all right

...so that crazy fundies could yell "Cover your head, whore" and women could be refused entrance to shops if they are not wearing hijab.

Bill Maher had a point--give the keys back to Saddam, and let him run the joint. It isn't free now either, it's just chaotic.

[Qanisqineq]

6. Oprah had a segment on the women in Iraq today

An Iraqi woman was talking about how many women there are addicted to valium because of the bombs, the rapes, the kidnappings, the death. Women are afraid to leave their homes for days. Valium is available without a prescription and is about 20 cents (US$) for a bottle. And they don't know how to handle all the addiction.

[RebelYell]

7. I had a family member addicted to Valium

Valium is stored in the kidneys, so eventually, you OD, if you take them regularly. Convulsions. Then rehab.

I am so ashamed what we have done to those people.