'Just World News' with Helena Cobban

Faiza on the post-elections

Faiza has a good new English-language post up, containing her reflections on the post-election scene. She is still, like many thousands of Iraqis, hanging around in a neighboring country-- in her case, Jordan.

This post is something she wrote last Saturday. The whole post is definitely worth reading. But if you can't catch the whole thing, at least pay attention to what this wise woman writes about her country's immediate priorities:

I think Iraq needs another year, until the picture gets clearer. The new government faces a lot of challenges, like the security file, which is the most important issue that needs to be treated seriously, and logically, then there is the administrational corruption file, and putting logical solutions to stop it from spreading, and thus ruining the country, then there is the issue of writing the new constitution, then, lifting up the broken economy of the country, bringing life back to it, starting building the infrastructure projects of the country, (water, electricity, sewage lines,...), and all other related projects of schools and hospitals, in the far areas deprived of such services. Iraq is in need of a long term building and constructing plan, for tens of years, and is in need of the Iraqi’s expertise, giving them the priority in building their country, but there is also the need to have consultants, Arabs and foreigners, to help them in many fields...

This is how I see the future... improving the security condition is the first key to enter the future. Controlling the administrational corruption in the governmental system, and in other links responsible for implementing the work program for manufacturing Iraq’s new future, that is the second key... and after that, all doors shall be open easily, and safely, by the will of GOD.

The people are supposed to have elected this government, so they have the right to watch her, and question her for what promises they have fulfilled, in providing a good life for Iraqis…this is step No. 1 in the harvest of democracy. Democracy is not only voting boxes, papers, names, cameras, the press, and enthusiastic speeches. Democracy is a way of life, to be learned by people and governments, and a language of dialogue between the two sides.

I do wish Iraqis shall fare good from this new experience in their lives, and by the new faces that shall come to receive the responsibilities. Our hearts are tired, but they are still full with the hope that what is to come... shall be better than what has gone.

As for the occupation, there must be a withdrawal timetable to be scheduled during the few coming years.

I do believe in the concept that says: a hand building Iraq, and the other pushes the occupation out of it.

One interesting footnote-- given that I'm working on this whole process of transitional justice: Does she even mention the words "war-crimes trials" or "truth commission", or give any indication that any other kind of backward-looking accountability is one of her concerns?

No, she doesn't. What she is very concerned about, though, is the issue of accountability going forward from here.

She has a great section in the post on the experiences of women in war-torn societies, reflecting on Krishna Kumar's pretty good book on that topic.

Then, there's this fascinating discussion of the veiling issue:

[quote beginning here]:

There is an issue that seems to make me wonder, and in doubt.

Why would some Iraqi or Arabic women debate the subject of “The Veil”, criticizing it, in the western media?

It is a critical and important issue, which should be discussed in our countries, to find out what is right from wrong. As to opening fire on the veil there, in the western newspapers, it is a kind of cowardice, and hypocrisy.

Why should I ‘tickle’ the feelings of the west, saying; you are better than us, and your culture is better?

Why don’t we discuss our subjects together, to get to a point? Like one family, which houses many different view points? Which is the wisest behavior? To spread our differences in front of the world, or to discuss them calmly, rationally, without hypocrisy, until we solve the problem, and get to a reasonable agreement.

Yes, in my opinion, a woman’s veil is needed, as a sign of respectability, and decency. I myself am wearing the veil, for some two years now, with my own, full conviction. It has never stood one day against my ambitions, or my career, nor has it influenced my personality or way of thinking, but I rather think it gave me more self confidence to move in a conservative society like ours.

The veil is connected with the nature of society, its history, culture, and a long heritage... that could not be easily ignored. But, we could discuss the style of that veil, its influence upon women, their way of thinking, their education, and their contributions in society. I do not like the veil that makes a woman looks like a tent, from top to bottom, or just like a creature from another planet, hiding from sight. The sight of a woman wearing a much exaggerated veil provokes astonishment in me, just like the sight of a woman wearing a much-revealing blouse, displaying most of her chest, half her back, and half her belly, including the belly-button. Huh... modern trends.

Both have exaggerated... And the Prophet Mohammad (The Prayers of GOD Be upon Him, and His Peace) used to say: (Do not exaggerate...and do not go astray). This is how I understand religion, and the way of life. Do not deprive the woman from the sun and day light... and do not tread with her body. Both are doing her an injustice.

This is what I think, and I would like to discuss the matter with the Muslims first, as an issue concerning us, and our lives. I do not respect those who go to the western media to take cover there, then throw stones at Muslims.

Those are tricks with other purposes in mind... And those, I do not like.

***

In our societies, girls and women wear the veil while in universities, schools, hospitals, and work offices, in public markets, streets, while driving cars, and they take their share in the public life, like men.

They join in political parties, organizations, humanitarian and social societies, and in non-governmental organizations.

I am talking about the Arab world in general... I have seen the same scenes in Baghdad, here in Amman, in Damascus, and in Cairo. Veil was never an obstacle against the woman; I rather think it was a protection point for her, in conservative societies. She might have been deprived of education, or work, if she weren't veiled.

[snip]

***

There is a phenomena much criticized by these women, and that is the increasing number of veiled woman in Iraq after the war. In the book I mentioned before there is an explanation to this phenomena...

When I was in Baghdad, I didn't comprehend that explanation clearly, it was somewhat ambiguous to me: the presence of a foreign occupation force, justifies the need for more decency for women, and to protect them from corruption. That was the idea in my mind. Then I understood the subject more from the book.
The author says; there was a clear phenomena in countries like Cambodia, who suffered from civil wars, then there were peace keeping forces from various countries, and remained for long years, and this created a class of fallen women in society (prostitutes), because of the big numbers of single men away from their countries!!

I smiled, and understood why the veil has increased among Iraqi women.
Perhaps by a personal wish, or by the parents request, (I do not like to use the words ' parent's pressure', for I do not like using such stinging expressions).
The sum of the matter is; I see in front of the women in Iraq, or in other Arabic and Islamic countries, a lot of issues worthy of debate, to open up the horizons of a shiny future for them, that could be accomplished without contradicting religion, or the veil.

Women deserve more attention, in order to guarantee an Arabic, Islamic generation equipped to face the challenges of life, and its difficulties. A generation able to create a new future, different of what we have seen, and suffered from... a shining, illuminated future, containing more truthfulness, success, and accomplishments, and an up-raising of our sad reality, to a more successful reality, with more power of influence... A reality containing work, production, and economic, political, social, and cultural developments... one that would raise our statues among countries and nations to a new reality, that we deserve...

To a place where silly talk and worthless words would be the last things in our lives, not even to listen up to, because we would be busy with fruitful work, ambitions, and successful accomplishments........

That is the future I hope , for Iraq, and all Arabic and Islamic people.

*******************

Okay Faiza, I'm sorry if by putting your very eloquent thoughts on this subject I might be opening up space for westerners to start getting involved in what you describe-- rightly, imho-- as a subject for primarily Muslim and Arab women to discuss among themselves.

But let's hope commenters here can hold off from the sniping and rhetorical stone-throwing they sometimes like to engage in?

My own general view on the veiling issue for what it's worth is that, as a woman, I prefer dress codes that impose (or strongly urge) norms of more covering up rather than ones that impose (or strongly urge) norms of less covering up.

I really hate the objectification of women and our bodies that goes on in a lot of western culture in the supposed name of "freedom for women". I strongly resent any measures that restrict women's mobility (foot-binding, burkas, prohibitions on women driving, etc). But why should belly-button-flaunting in public (for example) be culturally any "better" than veiling in public? No reason. In fact, because it can so easily lead to the objectification of women, I think it's considerably worse...