Riverbend's cry from the heart
The talented Iraqi woman blogger Riverbend has posted again today-- the first time since December 31.
This post is an agonized reflection on an interview she saw on Al-Jazeera t.v. last night, with an Iraqi woman who had been gang-raped by members of the US-trained Iraqi "security" forces.
As I noted here recently, the use of sexual humiliation and other forms of humiliation to try to "ensure" the post-detention silence of detainees is a common tactic of oppressive, torturing regimes; and it takes enormous courage for any victim to be able to speak out afterwards about what was done to her/him.
Riv writes,
- look at this woman and I can’t feel anything but rage. What did we gain? I know that looking at her, foreigners will never be able to relate. They’ll feel pity and maybe some anger, but she’s one of us. She’s not a girl in jeans and a t-shirt so there will only be a vague sort of sympathy. Poor third-world countries- that is what their womenfolk tolerate. Just know that we never had to tolerate this before. There was a time when Iraqis were safe in the streets. That time is long gone. We consoled ourselves after the war with the fact that we at least had a modicum of safety in our homes. Homes are sacred, aren’t they? That is gone too.
She’s just one of tens, possibly hundreds, of Iraqi women who are violated in their own homes and in Iraqi prisons. She looks like cousins I have. She looks like friends. She looks like a neighbor I sometimes used to pause to gossip with in the street. Every Iraqi who looks at her will see a cousin, a friend, a sister, a mother, an aunt…
Riv starts out her post by noting the contrast between the Oprah Winfrey Show, airing at that exact same time on one of the t.v. channels her family is able to access, which dealt with challenges US women face as they make their shopping choices or deal with their shopping addictions... and the other show, the one on Jazeera. She writes, too, that she is (quite understandably) filled with rage. But when she writes, "I know that looking at her, foreigners will never be able to relate" I think that is to some her extent her rage and anger talking there.
I did not see the footage, since we don't have a t.v. in our apartment here. (Can anyone send me a link to a streaming video version of some of this interview?) But evidently, from her account and from this one on the AJ website, it must be very disturbing-- and I think it would be so to anyone who watches it, whether Arab, or non-Arab.
This is how Riv ends:
- And yet, as the situation continues to deteriorate both for Iraqis inside and outside of Iraq, and for Americans inside Iraq, Americans in America are still debating on the state of the war and occupation- are they winning or losing? Is it better or worse.
Let me clear it up for any moron with lingering doubts: It’s worse. It’s over. You lost. You lost the day your tanks rolled into Baghdad to the cheers of your imported, American-trained monkeys. You lost every single family whose home your soldiers violated. You lost every sane, red-blooded Iraqi when the Abu Ghraib pictures came out and verified your atrocities behind prison walls as well as the ones we see in our streets. You lost when you brought murderers, looters, gangsters and militia heads to power and hailed them as Iraq’s first democratic government. You lost when a gruesome execution was dubbed your biggest accomplishment. You lost the respect and reputation you once had. You lost more than 3000 troops. That is what you lost America. I hope the oil, at least, made it worthwhile.
One first step is evidently that we need to stop the perpetration of gross rights abuses in Iraq both by our own troops and by all the allegedly "Iraqi" military formations that have been trained up by the occupation forces and still act effectively under the command of the US occupation forces there.
Under international law the US, as occupying power, continues to hold the responsibility for public security in Iraq. It has failed, utterly failed, to exercise that responsibility. The occupation must end. And everyone concerned-- Iraqis, their neighbors, the UN, Arab league, and Islamic Conference-- should gather together to do what is possible to repair the damage and re-assemble a working governance structure in Iraq.
It is news in French press this morning and fewd in Maliki government. http://fr.news.yahoo.com/20022007/202/a-bagdad-un-viol-presume-expose-la-division-au-plus.html
Here is the denouement, via DKos.
Iraqi government clears police officers after rape allegation made by Sunni woman
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Three officers of the Shiite-dominated police force have been cleared of allegations that they raped a Sunni woman in their custody, a government statement said today.
The statement by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office accused "certain parties" — presumably Sunni politicians — of fabricating the allegation to discredit the security forces during the ongoing Baghdad security operation.
The 20-year-old married woman said she was assaulted after police commandos took her into custody Sunday in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Amil, accusing her of helping insurgents. She said she was taken to a police garrison and raped.
It has been shown after medical examinations that the woman had not been subjected to any sexual attack whatsoever and that there are three outstanding arrest warrants against her issued by security agencies," the government statement said.
"After the allegations have been proven to be false, the prime minister has ordered that the officers accused be rewarded," it said without elaborating...
FYI: Riverbend has posted again. This time her response to Maliki's statement. She contends that it was done to discredit this women and to prevent others from coming forward. She argues that no Iraqi woman would claim rape in order to discredit the security forces or make any other political point, "the risks are too great."
I tend to agree with her on this point.
The social and personal cost is too high for most Iraqi women to report a rape, or even a more minor sexual assault. That was true even during the times when Iraq was at its most liberal and secular. To admit that one was raped given today's situation takes unbelievable courage (and amazing support from family and spouse). To make a false claim of rape at this time is simply unimaginable.
I tend to agree : the shame and social costs are much to high for a woman to make up such a story. I remember an early post from Faiza on this subject. She attended a meeting of women which was discussing what kind of actions should be undertaken for Iraqi women. Some women suggested to deal the question of rapes and violence against women. Faiza was totally opposed : she said that the question was much to sensitive and couldn't be treated head on.
If even a woman like Faiza come to this conclusion, then we get an idea of what it can cost to a young woman to admit such a thing publicly.
I find it particularly unfair that the shame falls on the victims. This young woman was very courageous, indeed.
it's difficult for me not to imagine that a good deal of Riverbend's rage is itself based in her identification with the "beseiged" Sunni community. both sides are committing atrocities right now in a cycle of revenge and the US, like it or not, is the fairest referee in town. unfortunately, that doesn't matter for a whole lot, or nearly as much as it should. in fact, i happen to believe that Iraq will remain broken until we leave, but that doesn't change the fact that we're the only truly neutral force operating in the country at the moment. the Sh'ia army or police who raped this woman tried to hide from the Americans. that should tell you something.
That seems to me to be the problem; it is not difficult to imagine. Why can't her rage be based upon her identification with the Iraqi women?
What I find difficult to imagine is that the US is any kind of referee at all. That seems to be the respnse of America "it is difficult for me not to imagine:"
that America is a fair referee.
that it is the Iragis fault not America's
that they need to shape up and get with our program.
In fact the most difficult thing to imagine is that America will ever feel the shame that she has brought upon herself.
Josh, what a set of utterly unfounded, reality-blind statements you have made!
You have a lot to learn about Iraqi society, and Iraqi history. You have managed to become so indoctrinated with the "received" bulls*** about Iraq and its people that you can cannot imagine at all that an Iraqi woman can be outraged simply as an Iraqi, or simply as a woman, or simply as a human being? She must, by definition as an Iraqi, identify primarily as a Sunni, a Shi`a, or a Kurd (since those are the only groups in Iraq that exist - or that matter, anyway, I guess, according to the "received" reality Americans have been fed), and feel outrage based on her secular/ethnic identity, and not on her identity as an Iraqi, a woman, or simply as a human being? You do not imagine that she could be equally outraged on behalf of her fellow Iraqi, her fellow woman, or her fellow human being whether she is a Shi`a, a Sunni, a Christian, a Jew, a Yezidi, an Arab, a Zoroastrian, a Kurd, an Armenian, a Turkmen, an Assyrian, A Chaldean, a Protestant, a completely mixed secular person, a male, or a female? You do not imagine that any Iraqi, male or female can be equally outraged at abuses inflicted on any other Iraqi irrespective of ethnicity or sect? Then you must also believe that she would not be equally outraged if the woman had been raped by a Sunni, and if both the perpetrator and the victim were Shi`as, then it's no big deal at all, right?
"...the US, like it or not, is the fairest referee in town."
Where on earth do you get the notion that the US is a referee, let alone fair when in fact, it is clearly neither.
"Iraq will remain broken until we leave..."
You are right, and also for some time after you leave, but until you leave, and leave completely, Iraq will only continue to become more and more broken every day.
"...we're the only truly neutral force operating in the country at the moment.
Neutral my Aunt Fatima! There is nothing neutral at all about you or the way you operate in the country.
And by the way, shall we do a study to find out who has done the most raping of both Iraqi men AND women in Iraq since 2003? If you guess anyone but the good ole Amurricans (and their "allies"), you will lose, I guarantee it.
Ooooops! I forgot to mention the Mandaeans, another one of the little-known religious minorities that have survived there for more than a millennium, and now, thanks to the Americans, are being forced to leave en masse.
I find it interesting that Europeans and Americans like Christiane and "Shirin" feel that they can lecture the rest of us as to what Iraqi women feel.
The NYT has an account of the facts. It seems they were able to interview the nurse who treated the victim.
Joshua, I guess that being a woman helps understanding things, especially if you are someone aware of different cultural sensibilities. Of course, you can't expect right wing hawks to show the same understanding and sensibility.
From the above linked NYT report on the rape :
Sabah Salem, a professor at the Baghdad University College of Law, said that while men were occasionally charged with rape in Iraq and punished, many cases went unreported.
“Rape cases in Iraq are viewed as a shameful thing to any woman regardless of the fact that she is the victim,” he said in an interview.
Joshua, reading Christiane's and Shirin's comments for some months now, I opine that they have a much better grasp of the Middle East than you have ever had. I am reminded of the recent stories re the "culture" of rape that had existed in the Israeli armed forces for some time, not to mention the president of the country himself being convicted of rape. Since you do seem to be sympathetic to that corner of the world, what is your opinion on the "culture" of rape that existed in the Israeli armed forces?
what is your opinion on the "culture" of rape that existed in the Israeli armed forces
charming! there's that 'strategic essentialism' at work -- now its a 'culture of rape.' No stereotype too base for JWN's holocaust denying cranks.
since it was my first time posting here, i have to admit that i'm a little confused & disturbed that a few other commenters think they have any record at all to guess the nature of my thoughts or feelings about this or that subject, much less to pass such prefunctory judgement.
that issues aside, while i admit that my original comments were not well thought out or articulated, i merely wanted to make the point that far too many observers - Iraqis, Americans, Europeans - seem to be rushing to another kindof judgement here: about the facts of this case and what conclusions can be drawn from them.
would it surprise me that the Iraqi Army under US supervision is infiltrated w/ bad guys and sectarian elements? of course not. that said, is it also the case that Sunni politicians have used whatever leverage they can to discredit and malign the Iraqi government and its security forces? I think any fair minded person would agree that this too is all too plausible. in light of these and other unpleasant realities, i believe its far too early to jump to conclusions about what is really going on here.
i agree that i too may have jumped the gun by arguing that Riverbend has taken a sectarian perspective, but my sense is that she's been moving in this direction for a while.
i shouldn't even have to respond to the comments that i couldn't understand or have compassion for the alleged rape vicitm ... that's insanity! of course i think rape is a terrible, traumatizing crime. coincidentally, i also believe that Iraq has suffered tremendously due to the US invasion and occupation. my comments have nothing to do with that. they have to do with the political reality on the ground in Iraq right now.
wish i had more time to explicate and explore the isues here, but alas, i don't.
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الى كل العراقيين الشرفاء في العالم أجمع
الى كل الأطباء العراقيين الأحبة في العالم أجمع
الى منظمات حقوق الأنسان في العالم أجمع
أخي الدكتور عدي البيروتي لم يعد لحد الأن
كان قد إختطف من أمام بوابة مستشفى الكاظمية التعليمي في بغداد
قبل خمسة أشهر 13/09/2006
من عاشر أخي عدي يعرف أنه من أنبل الناس وأشرف الناس
لقد كان عدي كالنسمة العطرة تنشر شذاها في كل مكان
دمث الخلق ، مؤدب الى درجة ترتقي به لمرتبة الصحابة الأخيار
كيف لا وهو الذي لا تفارق لسانه أيات القرآن الكريم والأحاديث النبوية
لقد كان بشوش الوجه متواضع الهيئة إذا تحدثت معه أدركت فوراً
أنك أمام إنسان من الجنة والله العظيم
عطره كالمسك ،دائم الطهارة والوضوء
لايفوته فرض
متعال عن اللغو ، زاهد في الدنيا
لايهتز إلا لكلام الله عز وجل فهو قريب من الله جداً
وبعيد عن الشيطان بعد المشرق عن المغرب
ولا أدري كيف تجرأ الجاهلون أن يؤذوه ويخطفوه
بل يا ترى هل قتلوه ؟؟؟؟
ومن ذاك المجرم الذي تجرأ فقتلك يا أخي ويا حبيبي وكيف طاوعته يده؟؟
لم نجدك أيها الغالي حتى الأن فهل في ذلك إشارة من الله عز وجل أنك لازلت على قيد الحياة
فإن كنت حياً ترزق أيها الأخ الحبيب فوالله لاعجب أن يحفظك الله فأنت حبيبه
والله تعالى حبيبك فالعشق بينك وبين الله ورسوله الكريم لا حدود له.
ولأن هناك بصيص من الأمل أنك لازلت حياً
لذا فإني أدعو إخوانك الأطباء العراقيين كلهم من غير أستثناء ومن كل الطوائف
أن يساهموا معي في مناشدة الحكومة العراقية والمرجعيات الشيعية في العراق وفي خارج العراق أن يبحثوا معنا عن أخي الدكتور عدي البيروتي من أجل العراق ومن أجل أطفاله
مصطفى وزهراء وعلياء وإسراء ونور
كما أدعو منظمات حقوق الأنسان في بريطانيا ونقابات الأطباء العراقيين في بريطانيا وأوروبا وأمريكا وبمساعدة كل أصدقاء عدي وزملائه الأطباء الشيعة والسنة
أن يثبتوا للعالم أجمع أن العراقيين وحدة واحدة
أرجوكم يا أصدقاء وإخوان عدي من زملائه الشيعة يا مهند يا رائد يا دريد يا علي يا ياسر يا ليث
أرجوكم محاولة الأتصال ومناشدة المرجعيات في النجف والكاظمية وأيران وكل الشخصيات العراقية وكل السادة لعلنا نصل الى مكان عدي إن حياً فهى البشرى لأطفاله
وإن غير ذلك فهي إذن الشهادة والجنة في عليين.
أرجوكم وجهوا نداءاتكم سواءاً عن طريق جمعيات الأطباء العراقيين في بريطانيا أو السفارات
عدي أخي أبعد ما يكون عن مستنقع الطائفية وأسمى من أن يكفّر مسلم وأحبته من الشيعة أكثر من السنة ولعل عند اصدقائه الشيعة والسنه الكثير ليقولوه
عدي أخي الحبيب ترك في بيته يوم إختطافه 1000 دولار فقط لاغير
والفدية كانت أضعافاً مضاعفة
لأنه كان يعالج الجميع بالمجان وهو الطبيب الأستشاري المرموق ذو الخمسين ربيعاً
عدي أرجوك عد الينا فوالله لم أشبع من شوفتك حبيبي ووالدتك على فراش المرض تقاوم الموت أملاً في أن تراك ولا تنسى إبنك وحبيبك مصطفى الذي هو مشتاق لك جداً.
أخوك المكلوم المفجوع أيمن البيروتي
17\02\2007