Kept in the Dark: Abuse of Women in Iraq and Afghanistan

This article expounds on the discussion in the article RAWA: Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan.

America went into Afghanistan and Iraq with the noble mission of spreading their gift of democracy to the people of a region that have historically known only dictatorship and authoritarian regimes. America wanted to instill in these places the principle of human rights and gender equality. Unwittingly, though, those that have suffered the after effects of war most horribly are the brave and stoic women of the region.

Traditionally, under the Taliban regime, women enjoyed very little, or almost no rights at all. They were not allowed to participate in government, had limited schooling, were not allowed to handle businesses, and unable to leave the house without male escorts. The implementation was so staunch that women were forced to cover themselves literally from head to toe. While women today can enjoy relatively more freedoms since the downfall of the Taliban, like assuming their old professions as health care workers, doctors and teachers, and participate in elections, domestic violence especially in rural places have grown to such alarming rates that women are seeking more creative and ghastly outlets for their growing frustration.

Self-immolation seems to be an ongoing trend among women in the Afghan region. It's not a mujahedeen phenomenon or the kamikaze resurfacing. Despite the fall of the misogynist Taliban, more and more women are dousing themselves in petrol, and with the strike of a match, setting their desperations ablaze. To the tired women, it's just an escape. Forced marriage and domestic violence seem to be harmless words on paper, but it carries lifelong damages to the women that they victimize. By the close of 2004, 235 women have tried killing themselves and 33 have been successful. "Abuse and violence against women in this country is endemic, but most of the time you don't see it," says a specialist. Most of the victims are aged 15 to 30 years old. One of the most compelling reasons behind this phenomenon is that women are unaware about their human rights. A more pressing concern, however, is the inaccessibility of the legal system for Afghan women. It is not acceptable for a woman to go to court in Afghanistan, therefore minimizing her chances of retribution. Of a victim, her grieving father shares that "(She) knew what her rights were because she was from an educated family in Kabul, but in the village she had no rights at all. She must have been suffering terribly, because she wasn't worried about the pain. She just wanted to die and be free and this was her only way."

In Iraq, meanwhile, women enjoyed more fair treatment during Saddam's regime. After his fall, however, more conservative Islamic factions have since taken root and as a result, women today suffer more cruelly than they did before.

Amid the rattling gunfire in Iraq, some women are running for their lives-not from US soldiers or guerilla warriors. One ghostly silhouette desperately hides herself in the dark streets of Baghdad from her younger brother who has been tasked by their parents to murder her for working as a prostitute. She made the choice of working as a prostitute out of destitution and poverty, and it's especially hard to earn a decent living during wartime. Honor killings committed by men against wives, mothers, sisters, or daughters who have been accused of "bringing shame" to the family are often condoned by the authorities and judicial systems "in the view of women as property with no rights of their own…(which is) deeply rooted in Islamic culture," says Tahira Shahid Khan, a professor specializing in women's issues in Pakistan's Aga Khan University. The perpetrators suffer mild sentences or, as in most cases, are simply overlooked and left unpunished. The grounds of a killing are judged by the family, from the fanatic-marital infidelity, prostitution, pre-marital sex, unwanted pregnancies-to the fantastic-flirting, failing to serve meals on time and to one ill-fated young woman in Turkey, for a love song that was dedicated to her over the radio. Honor killings in various forms have also been reported in countries as far and diverse as Bangladesh, Britain, Brazil, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan, Sweden, and Morocco.

Amid all the suffering, women are not giving up the fight. Through the efforts of brave locals, non-government organizations have since taken root to reach out to women who are victims of discrimination and abuse. The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) is one such group, having been established to advance the plight of Afghan women and help them win their struggle for human rights. Founded by a native Afghan woman, RAWA's network today reaches out to many women, advocates women's rights and has established numerous orphanages. Indeed, the heroism and bravery of these women is remarkable, and little by little, small victories continually gained in the interest of women's rights will grow and transform into stunning victories for all of womankind.