Iraqi Women's Rights Organization For Equal Rights Website

[Itsthetruth]

The Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq (OWFI) has a website printed in English and Arabic at:

http://www.equalityiniraq.com/english.htm

The following is a statement by the President of the
Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Yanar Mohammed.

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International Women’s Day in Baghdad

We decide our own future

Having been on too many TV interviews and debates over the last month, having confronted the Islamists continuously over the inhumane agenda they force against the women, having been written about in a threatening and notorious manner in many of their newspapers … we were thinking whether I can expose myself in an open air demonstration in Al-Fardawse square, or not, or whether OWFI should be having these events at all.

Muqtada Al-Sader’s newspaper has described me as the daughter of the devil in their March 8 edition. They even portrayed me as a magic demon having the head of a beastly cow in their Al-Hawza newspaper. We all know that he is capable of anything.

In spite of all of this, we knew for sure that we are living a most critical time for women’s rights in Iraq. The “free” elections gave authority to the enemies of women in this country (the Mullahs). They will be writing the constitution that will make us inferior and worthless for generations to come… and they expect us to shut up, agree, and thank god about the post-invasion freedoms we are enjoying.

Finally, we concluded that it’s a duel that cannot be delayed. Now is the time to polarize people around a secular libertarian alternative that could be a third alternative. The women’s rights issue is the arena where the progressive and the reactionary will have their first and furthermost battle.

We will have our IWD demonstration to be followed by our Conference: “Women and Constitution” and our major slogan will be: “Separation of Mosque from State and Education”.

March 8 Gathering:

We informed the women in the close-by deprived areas who we had worked with. Not many dared to come because of the deadly insecure situation, but those who were determined enough to see a change came, celebrated and chanted slogans of freedom, equality and secular egalitarian constitution.

I had spoken in the same morning over Baghdad radio and invited women to come and raise their objecting voices…against the men “dressed in black” who will decide our dark futures.

I was so proud to find that our OWFI girls were capable of organizing their own gathering with minimal help of some of our political supporters.

Hadil, who was the first resident of our shelter, is now an experienced activist who does not allow ANYBODY to degrade any woman in any way. On this day, she was controlling the microphone and telling all what and when to do things. As for our daily activism, nothing can happen in our OWFI centers without her consent.

Nada insisted to speak about the rights of women at work and also about the labor code. She is a college graduate that comes from a southwestern city where Islamists are posting a blacklist on the doors of mosques to be targeted, some of whom are women.

Hakeem, a worker-communist from Al Nasiriyah city could not help but to interrupt the speeches to chant slogans of ending occupation as a precondition of any security and welfare for people.

Thikra and Rawaa’, two revolutionary students from the University of Basrah, decided not to leave my side since the moment I stepped into Al Fardawse square. It was hard to foresee this one year back. Hearing me over the TV and reading our Al Mousawat Newspaper recruited them into our OWFI. Thikra is currently a symbol of freedom in the totally closed and veiled city of Basrah.

Many of our OWFI delegates came from the provinces. Kirkuk women were more relaxed and wore modern clothing. The problem in that city is more about ethnic clashes than it is about Islamism.

OWFI delegate from Al Hilla city were unable to arrive as the road was blocked by bodies exploded by terrorists. Al Nasiriyah city delegate wasn’t any luckier.

Al Basrah delegate was the most outspoken. Jisim (Um Ali) spoke about the suffering of young females who are taken out of their schools and their life sentence is to be seated next to a cow to be milking it instead of studying and working. Jisim is a trade unionist who fights ferociously for the rights of women at work. Although she is dressed in a black Abaya, she has an incredibly strong character, and has given quiet a moving speech.

I was allowed to stay only one hour in the demonstration. Any longer period could be enough to endanger myself and all. Thikra and Rawaa’ walked me all the way to the car where I was driven away to safety.

March 9 Conference: (Women and constitution)

Next day, the challenge was one of quality instead of physical danger. In our conference, I presented the proposal of the “Free Voice of Women” platform and invited feminist figures and organizations to become part of it. It was a call for secular women’s gathering who will not compromise women’s rights for tradition or religion. The presentation was considered a precedent. There was not one single local channel that was not present recording the presentation.

Nada presented her paper about women at work and we distributed our lawyer’s study about the current personal status law high-lighting the misogynist discriminatory articles and concepts in it.

Hadil and Hanan played a most important role in this conference. Fulla and Rana took care of the delegates and services.

The hall was full of women activists and human rights figures. One of the audience was a female judge, the other a professors… many of them were trade unionists, and some were simple women who overheard my call over the radio and came with flowers in their hands.

After many confrontational discussions with those of religious or misogynist affiliation, we won over many women and men to our side and we have the first beginning to our platform of secular free voice for women. After many meetings with most of the groups who were present, it was not very hard to explain how secularism is the first step to a better status for women.

Finally we took photographs of our closest supporters. They are from the South (the so-called Shiite part), the Kurdish North, and mostly from Baghdad.

IWD and Freedoms of People in Iraq

Following the cartoon elections in Iraq, the general air is that of confusion. People voted because they understood that the process will lead to security. Nevertheless, it is estimate that the number of people killed daily in Baghdad (only) is between100-125. Many of us have run across bodies during our daily routine.

We reach to the conclusion that as long as the American invasion is inside Iraq, it will be the magnet that attracts Islamist terrorism globally. They come with their money and thrive on our hatred of the invasion. Eventually, they get to recruit young men to their inhumane terrorist mission that aim to Afghanize Iraq.

Many of us – the secular forces who are serious about ending the invasion, but equally determined to achieve a modern secular rule that is non Nationalist and non Islamist and egalitarian- have decided to start an anti-occupation political mass. We decided to name it Iraq’s Freedom Congress. We had our first meeting on February 25th and agreed to our founding statement and our goals. From Mosul to Basrah, passing through Baghdad and the Marshes, we set up the first beginning of a project for freedom from Invasion and Islamism.

We have a great responsibility toward all the people in Iraq. It is either us, or the American formula of ethno-religious divisions.

Long live Freedom to Iraqi people, equality to women in Iraq.
Long live the 8th of March

Yanar Mohammed
Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, president
Baghdad, March 14th, 2005

http://www.equalityiniraq.com/english/2005/YanarMuhammed-8marBaghdad060405.htm

The above public statement is not copyrighted material.
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[Itsthetruth]

1. Women's Rights Organization Statement On Iraqi Elections

The recent election game will not improve the situation for women

Statement by the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq

The game the US and its allies like to call the "Iraqi election" took place amid terrorist operations which killed more innocent people.

The authorities prevented vehicles from using the streets to isolate polling booths. Military helicopters hovered above people’s heads and tanks surrounded them. It was an atmosphere of war!

In this game different forms of deception and blackmail were used by various reactionaries from Sistani , Talabani to Ayad Allawi and others to obtain the consent and fingerprints of people.

The coming "parliament" only represents the Islamic and ethnic parties and in no way represents the masses in Iraq. The election of this body will NOT put an end to the US occupation and its terrorism. Nor will it put an end to the terrorism of the political Islamists.

This "government" will NOT establish a state of equal citizenship for all residents of Iraq. It will NOT grant equal status for women and men. It is designed to add legitimacy to the American occupation of Iraq.

Its purpose is also to protect US-approved political groups against the outrage and discontent of the masses and against other sections of political Islam and remnants of Saddam's Baath party which also seek power.

The coming "parliament" will be nothing but a continuation of the last two years of administration by the Governing Council and the Interim Government. This means continued violation of women’s rights through compulsory wearing of the veil, allowing polygamy and pleasure marriage, turning a blind eye to the crime of honor killing (exonerating the perpetrators of these crimes) and implementing Islamic sharia which means active discrimination against women, violating their rights and depriving them even from those few rights they enjoyed under the Baath regime.

The first articles of the "constitution" which is to be written by this "parliament" in August will state that Iraq is an Arab country and Islam is the official religion of the state.

The "constitution" will not accept any civil laws which contradict Islamic Sharia laws. This "constitution" will declare Arab Muslim males to be first class citizens. The non-Arabic speaking peoples, followers of other faiths, the non-religious and all women will be declared second and third class citizens.

We have no interest in this "parliament" and its "constitution".

It does NOT represent 60 per cent of Iraqi society, namely women. It does NOT represent the millions who refused to vote within Iraq and overseas. It does NOT represent the followers of other faiths and secular and progressive people. As it only represents a small minority in the society, this "parliament" is NOT legitimate.

We in the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq and women and men defending civil society did not vote for an Islamic-ethnic and sectarian "parliament" and we do NOT want a "constitution" based on Islamic sharia law.

We want to separate religion from the state in Iraq. We want laws which treat all residents of Iraq equally. We oppose all discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, religion, gender, sect and race.

We need equality for all residents of Iraq, including women.

Join us in the struggle for a secular constitution and a secular state in Iraq.

Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq
January 31, 2005

http://www.equalityiniraq.com/owfi_stae_election.htm

The above public statement is not copyrighted.