Women Flee "New" Iraq

A partial draft of the Iraqi constitution is out, and tragically, as expected, Islamic law is enshrined, before a boilerplate paragraph protecting the rights of women.

CHAPTER ONE: Basic Principles

Article (1): The Republic of Iraq is an independent, sovereign nation, and the system of rule in it is a democratic, federal, representative (parliamentary) republic.

Article (2): First, Islam is the official religion of the state and is a basic source of legislation:

a) No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.

b) No law can be passed that contradicts the principles of democracy.

c) No law can be passed that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms outlined in this constitution.

CHAPTER TWO: Rights and Freedoms

Part One: Rights

Article (14): Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination because of gender, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion or social or economic status.

Article (15): Every individual has the right to life and security and freedom and cannot be deprived of these rights or have them restricted except in accordance to the law and based on a ruling by the appropriate judicial body.

Article (16): Equal opportunity is a right guaranteed to all Iraqis, and the state shall take the necessary steps to achieve this.

So, you might say, what's the problem? Women's rights are in the constitution, so that's enough, right?

Well, that's not the way Iraqi women see it. For example, Dr. Raja Kuzai, who says this in today's New York Times:

"This is the future of the new Iraqi government - it will be in the hands of the clerics," said Dr. Raja Kuzai, a secular Shiite member of the Assembly. "I wanted Iraqi women to be free, to be able to talk freely and to able to move around."

"I am not going to stay here," said Dr. Kuzai, an obstetrician and women's leader who met President Bush in the White House in November 2003.

Cheese sandwich, cheese sandwich, cheese sandwich. Cheese sandwich George Bush and all those neo-cons who pretended they cared about women. Iraq is now a giant cheese sandwich.

I miss my curse words.