Green Euro-MP: Rights of Iraqi women must be defended
07 February 2006
The elections in Iraq may be seen by some as a step forward, but thejury is out on whether this is good news for women. London's Green MEP,Jean Lambert has called for action to end the atrocities, and supportwomen struggling to overcome oppression.
Jean, who was named MEP 2005 for Justice and Human Rights last year,spoke alongside Houzan Mahmoud, UK Head of the Organisation of Women'sFreedom in Iraq (OWFI) and co-founder of the Iraq Freedom Congress, at aseminar in the University of London Union on Sunday. Jean said: "Theelections in Iraq have not solved the ongoing problems there but seemedto simply increase the power of an already established, male dominatedpower structure. Women in Iraq are subject to sexual discrimination,random attacks of violence, torture and supposed honour killings. Toovercome this violence they need both physical and financial support.
"Unable to involve themselves fully in society because of the dangersthey face everyday, many Iraqi women are being denied their basic humanrights. These actions are not part of a historical Iraq and do notbelong there today. This brutality has been encouraged over the last tenyears through activists pushing a certain version of Islam, but it isnot too late to change the situation and give women in Iraq theopportunity to regain their freedom and equality."
Jean continued to praise the work of OWFI and urged others to do whatthey could: "With the rise of groups such as OWFI changes will slowly bemade but it is vital that the European Parliament and other groupsprovide the necessary support to continue these developments."
The seminar focused on Iraq and the current political situation therein light of the 'elections'. Along with Jean Lambert MEP and HouzanMahmoud the seminar heard from Nadia Mahmood, Iraq Freedom Congress andMaria Exall, Communication Workers Union (CWU).
Notes:
Jean Lambert: In October 2005 Jean was named MEP 2005 for Justice andHuman Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the EuropeanParliament for London in the 1999 European elections.* She wasre-elected in 2004. She is one of nine MEPs representing London and oneof two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament.
Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq: www.equalityiniraq.com
