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Woman going backwards in Iraq

The now discredited leaders of the Coalition of the Willing said the aim of the war was to remove Iraq's WMDs, topple Saddam and restore democracy to the country. Of course apart from Saddam being out of office Iraq has increasingly gone from bad to worse in just about all respects.

It is interesting, in an Australian context, as John Howard seeks to have new immigrants adopt "Australian values " - including those coming to Australia given to understand that women must be treatly equally to men - the situation for women in Iraq is getting must worse than it was under the Saddam regime.

The Washington Post reports:

"As Islamic fundamentalism seeps into society and sectarian warfare escalates, more and more women live in fear of being kidnapped or raped. They receive death threats because of their religious sects and careers. They are harassed for not abiding by the strict dress code of long skirts and head scarves or for driving cars.

For much of the 20th century, and under various leaders, Iraq was one of the most progressive Middle Eastern countries in its treatment of women, who were encouraged to go to school and enter the workforce. Saddam Hussein's Baath Party espoused a secular Arab nationalism that advocated women's full participation in society. But years of war changed that."

The women of Iraq must really be grateful for the "liberation" the George, Tony and John inspired war in Iraq has brought them!!!

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