On the plight of women in IraqToday, a sad tale in The Sunday Timas on the fate of women in 'democratized' Iraq.
... “Women cannot drive; women cannot go out after midday; women and men are not allowed to go out and walk together, they must walk separately.” The rules are enforced by Al-Qaeda thugs who drive around in cars in Amariya, Yarmouk and other Sunni areas that Zarqawi has declared are his. Noor said: “If they see someone breaking the rules, they shoot them.”
The “men in black” have turned women into virtual prisoners in their homes. “At first we were more afraid of bombs but now we are more afraid of being killed for what we are wearing,” Noor said.
“I used to wear jeans or short skirts. We didn’t have to worry,” she recalled, for a moment gushing like any of her fashion-conscious contemporaries in the West.
“My favourites were in the Qasar al Nisaa shop. Before, they sold all kinds of clothes, but now it’s so conservative. They’re not even allowed to display underwear in shops: you have to ask from under the counter and then only a woman can serve you.”
She dare not step outside without a hijab, or headscarf. Last month two teenage girls were dragged off the al-Amal al-Shahbi street in the Amariya district. When they emerged several hours later their heads had been shaved.
The militants issued a warning that in future women walking down the street without a hijab faced death. Men in black terrorise Iraq's women by Marie Colvin and Widiane Moussa
Mark Alexander
4 comments:
Leelion:
Mark, some cultures are civilized, some are not. You cannnot impose democracy and civilized behaviour on a people and culture who have never known it.
Oh how I agree! GWB has shown his naïveté and thorough lack of understanding of the Islamic faith and the tribal way of life so prevalent in those areas. Blair has shown no prudence, and has also shown his thorough lack of understanding of the situation.
Bld:
Didn't you know that Muslims believe that Muslimahs were given rights long before Western women were, especially the right to do as the men say!
So much for the attempt to bring democracy to Iraq. Leelion, I agree fully that you "cannnot impose democracy and civilized behaviour on a people and culture who have never known it." These are people who know only tribal customs and savage behavior. As our forefathers knew, only educated, informed people of good will are worthy and capable of creating and sustaining a democracy. Alas, these poor desert-dwelling barbarians do not qualify at this time in history. Perhaps they will in another thousand years although that may not be time enough....
It would appear that the result of our attempt to "bring democracy to the Middle East" has been to catapult these uncivilized wretches back 1000 years. Unfortunately, they have neither the intelligence nor the inclination necessary for democracy to take root. They are manifestly unworthy of living in a truly free and open society. They would rather cling to their barbaric tribal practices and kill all who disagree with them. Alas, what a waste.....
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