Daily Times

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, in his address to the UN General Assembly, focused largely on the continuing battle against ISIS; which at one time held a third of the country. Describing the terror group as “now breathing its last”, he went on to outline how Baghdad was engaged in efforts to facilitate the return of the displaced. In addition, there was talk of gathering evidence of war crimes. Though, of course, this process, which is restricted to putting ISIS in the dock, means that original sinners Bush and Blair will once more sidestep due process.

Yet when al-Jaafari touched briefly on the topic of women it was only within the context of the country’s national economic, social and cultural plan. Thereby excluding the important question of women’s security from the narrative. And while annual UNGA meetings are, by tradition, perhaps not the chosen forums in which to address law and order scenarios at the domestic level – it cannot be denied that the situation for women rights activists has suddenly turned precarious.

At the beginning of this week, Shaimaa Qasem, a fashion model, media activist and former Miss Iraq, confirmed that she had received death threats; with the warning that “your turn is coming”. This ought to be sufficient to give the authorities cause for concern. After all, four women have been murdered in the country since August; the first being beauticians Rafeef al-Yaseri and Rasha al-Hassan. Then last week Tara Fares was gunned down in Baghdad. And while she was widely known for her social media presence — boasting 2.7 million followers on Instagram – she was vocal when it came to commenting on the state of women’s rights in Iraq.

Her assassination comes just days after Soadal-Ali met the same fate in Basra. The latter was well-known for her activism and was head of Al Wid Al Alaiami For Human Rights in Basra. That her murder took place in broad daylight has prompted rumours that the attackers are on the payroll of powerful men. Al-Ali had been strongly involved in the anti-government protests in the Shia-dominated southern oil city that have been ongoing since July; when some 30,000 people were hospitalised after drinking contaminated water. Among residents’ demands are an end to water and electricity shortages as well as unemployment and government corruption. She was also at the forefront of the campaign for an independent Basra. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s response to the unrest was to direct security forces to “act decisively against the acts of vandalism that accompanied the demonstrations”. Some quarters have accused those taking to the streets of being in collusion with the US to the detriment of Iranian interests. Others contend that religious extremists are behind the recent bloodshed.

Be that as it may, the fact remains that women activists are being murdered in the country’s two largest cities. Thereby underscoring how for al-Jaafari’s talk of Iraq having “joined the club of democratic nations, built on an inclusive, constitutional consensus” much more needs to be done to ensure the safety of women. If, that is, the latter are to take their rightful place in rebuilding the nation.  *

Published in Daily Times, October 2^nd 2018.