Misunderstandings, The Truth:Laws of Women in Iraq

   When I arrived to the USA leaving my home in Iraq, I expected to be asked about the atrocities in my country, how I survived, and what I had witnessed during my career as a journalist in a country turning the way of killing into some kind of sick art.

   I was surprised that I was asked by the American girls how many wives I have when they knew that I’m from Iraq. Then it is followed by another question with a tone made it looked like an accusation more than a question of why the women cover themselves in my country. Things became clear. There is a loop of misunderstanding about my country.  They think Iraq and Saudi Arabia are the same. They are both in the Middle East but they are completely different countries.

  Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, etc., and Saudi Arabia are different countries. Each country has its own traditions and law. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), women have to cover themselves from the head to toe, they are not allowed to drive a car, and use the internet, in some cities can’t mix with men in a supermarket by all means. They are smothering the women. Why?  According to them, the woman’s body arouses the sexual desire in men when they see a woman. Ok? Is it the woman’s fault if she is beautiful? Let them make a law to force the man not to look.

  Let’s talk about Iraq. I will not deny that some men have more than one wife, they do that in secret most of the time and when the first wife knew "oops" the man's in trouble! According to Islam, the man has the right to marry four women but he has to be just in spending the money on them, and showing love and affection to all of them which is impossible, so God’s law put restrictions but men are abusing it. Iraqi family law stipulates that the first wife has to attend the court and tell the judge that she agrees to the marriage, it happens in some cases, but the general situation is a big "NO".

  Women are women! If she is European, Iraqi, or American there is no difference, the jealousy will be inflamed inside woman and she will fight for her husband, fiancé or boyfriend against the invader.

 But how about covering women? Yes, that is true! Muslim woman have to cover their hair and body, and not to wear pants because it shows the curves of the lower body which means, of course, the strange man will be sexually attracted to the woman, and that is a sin for both of them.

  But in many areas in Baghdad, women are free to wear the pants, show their legs and hair and enjoy their lives but of course, not like USA or European countries. The North of Iraq is different; women are somehow free to wear anything they like within the restriction of traditions and culture.

The holy cities in the south, women are not allowed to show their bodies. They’re always covered but not the face, just some of them.

 In Iraq, women can drive, visit the internet coffee shop, enjoy shopping and talk to the vendors. Men are waiting here and there or are following the girl to pass her the phone number if she shows some attraction with the eye language. Men and women are dating in the gardens away from the eyes of people, or restaurants.

 We have businesswomen in Iraq, also women can work in the companies and for the government but what I’m really proud of in my country is that we have a law that gives the woman one year leave after she gives birth to her baby, one year with a salary to nurture her baby. In USA, I watch the working women struggling to take care of her baby and work, things should change regarding this issue.