How American Influence has Affected Muslim Women in Middle East

Felicia Whatley

Iraq Class

How American Influence has affected Muslim women in the Middle East’s Rights

            Women’s Rights in Iraq have advanced since the fall of Saddam and America’s influence. Iraq has been turned upside down as head veils are pulled off, girls advance in education, begin to use their degrees and advocate for legislation to further equality. Certain American politicians and teachers have gone out of their way to make the women of Iraq a priority.

Locke, John “American Human Rights Activist Illegally Arrested in Kuwait” Oct 11, 2005 wrote about Trina Flowers. There is the case of Trina Flowers, an American who actively worked for human rights, hired by the University of Kuwait to teach. She was asked to pass a handful of failing students from ruling families. She refused and it got her fired. She filed civil suits and won. The courts found the Institute in violation of their contract and awarded back pay. She took her complaints to the embassy regarding some corrupt official sold Iraqis inflated oil. Flowers was detained in the CID Interpol station without charges. She was denied any visitations by her lawyer. Her only crime was taking to light Iraqis getting treated unfairly. She made a difference by fighting the corrupt system.

            For a balanced viewpoint there have been many faltering struggles for women’s rights since the fall of Saddam Hussein in March of 2003. No great feat in history is without its struggles.

            Iraqi women are entering the workforce. According to The Observer newspaper in October 2006, abduction, rape, and murder are the punishments for any woman who dares to hold a professional job. The Iraqi society still has a long way to go in accepting women’s rights.

                        Miami Herald writes in August 4, 2006 that Iraqi women plan to hold the prime minister to his promise. He promised to implement women’s rights reforms. Women in Iraq’s parliament say “ they were heartened by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki’s pledge to improve women’s rights” from a speech a week prior to the U.S. Congress. And the 2^nd of the same month Iraqi women begin to play a bigger part in the country’s politics. The parliament set a twenty-five percent quota for politically important positions to be given to Iraqi women.

            A prominent women’s group in Iraq and advocates of international law in the U.S. began to demand justice for thousands of Iraqi females that suffered under Saddam’s regime June 26, 2006 in an article from Womensnews. They began lobbying the Iraqi High Tribunal to work toward prosecuting gender based violence. Some of the crimes included rapes in prison and politically motivated public beheadings.

            Legislation in the United States helps benefit Iraqi women. On June 6, 2006  according to WLUML Representative Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York, and Representatives Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California, Susan Davis also from California, and Carolyn McCarthy a Democrat from New York pushed legislation that helps the lives of Iraqi women.

            More legislation in Iraq April 25, 2006 helps Iraqi Kurdish women voice hope for a constitution. Womensnews writes that civil society and women’s rights groups in Iraqi Kurdistan work toward drafting a constitution for better women’s rights.

            Iraq gets their first talk radio station after the wake of Saddam’s fall. Womensnews reports that after 20 years Salama Omar is finally able to put her journalism degree to use. Though her real name has been changed to protect her safety in Iraq in 2005 she became a correspondent for Radio Dijia—the nation’s first talk radio station.

            President George W. Bush speaks on why women matter stated a Salon.com article August 31, 2005 when some Iraqis soldiers insist that women’s rights can wait. It is in democracy and development when women are treated equally. Bush stated it was “an amazing process that honors women’s rights, the rights of minorities.” This was during the drafting of the constitution.

            Iraqi women have waited long enough. They should not have to hide in shame or cower to their men. Now is the time for upheaval and change. Americans are bringing economy, building schools and helping repair lives for Iraqi people. Their influence has been a positive affect. They even have their own talk radio station now that is hiring women!