It’s been a long time since NPR made me cry, but Tuesday night, the magnificent Anne Garrels (above) filed a report that brought me to tears in the parking lot of Target. It was a sweeping evaluation of where women in Iraq are since the U.S. invasion, and sister, the news is not good. Women being killed in Basra for wearing makeup and “Western” clothes. A reporter in Baghdad whose life was threatened, so she moved to a regional capital where she was safe, but her family couldn’t get along without her and her income. So she’s now back in Baghdad, her life still on the line. And the final story was of a woman who had no prospects for marriage, so she has remained a virtual slave to her own family. Listening to her cousin describe her pain — such a bright, curious, passionate woman, doomed to a life of lonely drudgery or worse — is what finally pushed me to tears. Try explaining that to the 8-year-old in the back seat.
Why is it that the conditions for women have gotten worse since our push for democracy in Iraq? Why is it that only reporters like Anne Garrels cover this story? What can we DO about it?
Responses to “Crying for the women of Iraq.”
January 31st, 2008 at 8:43 am
as it is clear for us as iraqies,the coalition frces want this choas in iraq.for after this choas there will be a new patern.
now the melitias,supported by iran in the south,others supported by tthe arab countreis in the west and centr of iraq are doing these things.
after about 5 years iraqis,including me(who supported the coalition forcesm,who thought that the west will bring us the democracy,are sure that,the west wil bring us nothing n\more than the distruction of our nation.they will distroy our civilization.the beginig was when the us troops opend the main gate of our musems in baghdad abd let the tiefs to loot my history.
the american forces want this distruction in the middle of the middle east to protect israel and to stop the apperians of the savior.that is why they supported alqaida to destroy the shrine in samera,a place where the savior disappeared for the last time.it is also the case for the fight in najjaf 3 years ago.
they will destroy the civilizations one after the other and then will turn inside and destroy theirselves.
azhar hady,reporter and translator.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I heard that report last night on the way home and was also very moved by it. Let’s face it, the men in Washington just aren’t as concerned with human rights as some of their constituents would like them to be. My solution is to put a woman in charge.