Current Events

“Insurgent and religious extremists use rape, acid and assassination to force Iraqi women to wear the veil - the symbol of submission,” Lesley Abdela. This quote was the initial reason I chose this topic for my research. Women’s rights [at least in Iraq] are at an all time low and the severity of what is happening to them is at an all time high.

Iraqi women thought a new era of democracy would bring them freedom of choice, but now religious extremists are making it worse than ever for them. A violent oppression of women is spreading across Iraq, with very little light being shown on it from politicians, religious leaders or the media.

Many Iraqi women, until now, have never been forced to wear the veil. However, now the extremists are sending a message, loud and clear. Dead women and girls are turning up all over the country, all with veils tied around their heads. These extremists believe, taking the Qur’an quite literally, that women should be covered at all times. They believe a women’s place is in the home, and all women are inferior to men, no matter the age. It is clear they will stop at nothing to make all women conform to their beliefs.

It is because of this that I have decided to include current events in my blog. I believe what is happening currently to women is just as important as the history, because what is happening now will soon be history. To truly understand a culture you must look into every aspect, and the current treatment of women is the most important at this time.

Citation:

Abdela, Lesley. "Iraq's War on Women." Open Democracy 17 June 2005 07 Mar 2008 .