Britain blamed for rising Iraq violence

Louise Nousratpour
Saturday March 15, 2008
The Morning Star

IRAQI Women's League guest speaker Dr Shatha Besarani warned on Friday that British support for a religious majority in Iraq's parliament had led to a "dramatic" rise in misogynist crimes.

Addressing the final day of the TUC women's conference, Ms Besarani painted a gruesome picture of the suffering endured by women and girls at the hands of religious fanatics and occupation forces.

There have been many reported cases of British and US soldiers involved in the rape and killing of women and young girls, as lawlessness and a "gung-ho" culture has become the order of the day.

According to conservative estimates, over 2,200 women and girls were killed between 2003 and 2006 as a result of gender-specific violence.

This month, Women for Women International said that the situation for women in Iraq had gone from "one of relative autonomy and security before the war into a national crisis."

Ms Besarani warned of a rise in religious attacks on women and accused US and Britain of supporting religious fundamentalism in Iraq.

"The occupation forces are using their powers to divide and rule the country and have given far too much power to religious groups," she stormed.

Since January, more than 60 Iraqi women have been found dead on the streets.

"Shi'ite fundamentalists have claimed responsibility for many of these deaths," Ms Besarani said.

"They have been leafleting cities, declaring that make-up is banned and the hijab is compulsory."

She argued that both religious fanatics and occupation forces were using the killing of women as "the best way" to terrorise Iraqis into submission.

"When the Iraqi parliament was being formed, many women organisations pleaded with British ministers to ensure that a secular government runs the country," Ms Besarani recalled.

"Our request was ignored. Now, we are in a situation where religious groups occupy 85 per cent of parliamentary seats.

"The majority have stood against women's rights.

"Indeed, they have abolished family laws to the detriment of women."

The Iraqi Women's League launched a campaign in January to highlight the escalating violence against women in Iraq.