No for Islamic law( Shari ‘a) in Iraq
No for an Islamic regime in Iraq
Yes for a secular state in Iraq
Yes for an egalitarian law in Iraq

Statement of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq
on adopting the Islamic Shari’a by Governing Council in Iraq

January 14,2004

In a step aimed at expropriating all progressive gains achieved by the Iraqi women through years of tireless struggle, and against the aspirations of women, progressive and egalitarian masses and women’s rights in Iraq, Saddam’s regime repealed many articles of the Iraqi family law. This regime had implement articles of centuries-old Islamic Shari’a including those condoning honour killing. It beheaded sex workers and launched the so-called faith campaign to impose compulsory veil on women.

Today, the Governing Council endorses the Islamic Shari’a to expropriate all women’s rights gained in decades of relentless struggle.

The Iraqi society will not regress half a century to implement laws, which become invalid long time ago. The Iraqi society is a secular society. The Iraqi women and men had not dreamed in overthrowing the Baath fascism only to replace with an Islamic dictatorship. The Governing Council, soon after its inception, changed women’s day from 8 March to another Islamic date to pave the way for imposing the Islamic laws on the Iraqi society. They planned to repeat the miseries of women in Afghanistan, Iran, and Sudan who are striving to emancipate from political Islam’s hell as soon as possible.
The Governing Council, installed by the USA, which absolutely does not represent the Iraqi masses stands firmly against the egalitarian and liberation aspirations of the Iraqi masses. This body has no legitimacy to legislate laws and impose them on the Iraqi masses.

The Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq from its inception has stood against these bodies imposed on the Iraqi masses. The OWFI called in its founding statement for struggle to establish a secular and non nationalist state, which achieves gender equality and implement a secular institution that treat all Iraqis on bases of equal citizenship. This organization stands firmly against these laws passed behind the scene against the Iraqi masses.

Secular government in Iraq that adopts a secular institution, separation of religion from state, education and all governmental institutions, full gender equality are urgent demands not subject for compromise.

Our protests in Baghdad and all over the world will not deny the Islamic groups any chance to impose their medieval laws on the masses of Iraq.
We call on all defenders of gender equality and women’s freedom to add their voices to the voices of women in Iraq. The swards of Islam and Islamic Shari’a are in sight threatening the lives and the rights of women in Iraq.

For full gender equality
For a secular state in Iraq

Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq


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