CPTnet
September 3, 2003
IRAQ: Letter to Paul Bremer from Yanar Mohammed concerning the security of
Iraqi women
The following letter was written by Yanar Mohammed to Mr. Paul Bremer, the
chief American administrator for the Coalition Provisional Authority--the
official ruling body in Iraq at this time. CPTers have worked with the
author of this letter, a member of the Organization of Women's Freedom in
Iraq, and endorse its contents. [Note: the letter has been edited for
length.]
Aug. 24, 2003
The four months since your troops have taken over in Iraq proved to have
exploded unprecedented violence against women. Hundreds of women endured
the pain and sufferings of being kidnapped, raped and sometimes sold. This
violence is still a daily occurrence, especially in the streets of Baghdad
without attracting the least attention of your troops.
One of the justifications announced by the US administration as a pretext
for the military attack was introducing a new era of freedom for women and
men in Iraq. Nevertheless, all the subjugation and humiliation that we
experienced since your arrival, expresses bluntly the falseness of your
claims. One of the main aspects of these new times, similar to the Baath
era, was the discrimination and assaults against women, whether organized by
professional gangs or individual crimes supported by male chauvinism . . .
The moment a women steps out to the streets, she is an immediate target to
humiliation, sexual assault and abduction . . .
Moreover, hundreds of women and girls were subject to physical assault to be
followed by killing sometimes . . . This brutal discrimination against women
is a daily occurrence under your extensive military existence. After many
months of your administrative supervision for founding governmental
institutions such as Iraqi police, we do not witness any importance given to
the issue of women's insecurity.
We demand that you undertake your responsibility of providing us with
security as a basis for decent life for more than half of the Iraqi society.
We demand the set up of security guards and patrols in every main street and
community center on a twenty four/seven basis. We also demand heavy
sentences and penalties against sex offenders. . .
We demand an administrative and legislative process that grants dignity and
self- esteem for women. We will not tolerate your compromise with
misogynist reactionary groups that throw the blame on women when they want
to justify discrimination, thereby exploiting the violence to force women
into historic religious dress code that defies freedom and humanity of
women. . . . In other words, we find your cooperation with backward
political groups such tribal heads or political Islamists outrageous as the
first price paid being the freedoms of women.
Women need a society that supports and empowers their pride and self-esteem.
We expect an immediate response to our demand of deserving a secure
environment and will not accept continued deterioration of women's status
in Iraq.
You must be aware that you are responsible for this situation. We expect a
written answer to our concerns.
Yanar Mohammed
Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq
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