Iraqi women fear new constitution to hamper rights

An early leaked draft copy of Iraqi constitution favors a bigger Islam role, raising fears that women's rights in this war-devastated country might be hampered.

The draft constitution, published in the local Al-Sabah newspaper on Tuesday, stated that Islam will be "the official religion of the state" and "the main source of legislation."

The expressions have aroused concerns among Iraqi women, who demand the preservation of Iraq's 1959 Law of Personal Status, which grants equal rights to husband and wife to divorce and inheritance, and governs related issues like child support.

The law was canceled in 2003 under the pressure of Islamic parties before the move stirred a crisis and it was finally reactivated.

In the political field, although Iraqi women have taken about one third of the seats in the National Assembly, they fear the conservative Shiite majority in the assembly will ignore their " legitimate demands."

"We are concerned about the interpretation of the Islamic jurisprudence in a way that would take us back and then people would think that Saddam era was better," said Maysoon Damloojy, head of the Independent Iraqi Women Gathering.

Another Iraqi woman activist Hanaa Edwar echo Maysoon's fear.

"The Iraqi society is a diverse society and this constitution would determine the future. It is decisive for us. We can not allow anyone to take us back and to mock the treaties of human rights signed by Iraq," she said.

In comparison with the former regime of Saddam Hussein, Iraqi women now enjoy more political rights.

There are six female ministers among a total of 33 in the incumbent Iraqi government, seven female deputy ministers in addition to many female officials in various levels of the country.

But many of these officials still want their rights to be established in the permanent constitution due to be ready by Aug. 15.

A few days ago, more than 200 Iraqi women from different woman organizations staged a sit-in protest under the scorching sun in Baghdad, demanding their rights be written in the constitution.

Iraq's National assembly was elected in January 2005 according to guidelines prepared under the US Coalition Provisional Authority, which stipulates a minimum 25 percent female representation in the assembly.

Some Iraqi women, however, want a mandatory 40 percent female representation in all ministries as well as national, regional and local elected bodies.

Azhar Al Hakim, head of a political organization for women named "Wafdi", voiced a different viewpoint, saying she doesn't support a fixed percentage for the women representation.

The constitution speaks about the individuals and their rights, so guaranteeing the rights of the women as individuals is the best insurance, she argued.

As the deliver date of the constitution is drawing closer, Iraqi women are still waging campaigns despite the deteriorating security situation.

Om Yassir, an ordinary housewife, is upbeat about the prospect of Iraqi women's striving for their rights.

"Iraqi women should fight for their rights, because no one would give the rights to them, and nothing comes easily," she said.

Source: Xinhua