NYT: Rape (and Silence About It) Haunts Baghdad

[kskiska]

(snip)

Since the end of the war and the outbreak of anarchy on the capital's streets, women here have grown increasingly afraid of being abducted and raped. Rumors swirl, especially in a country where rape is so rarely reported.

The breakdown of the Iraqi government after the war makes any crime hard to quantify.

But the incidence of rape and abduction in particular seems to have increased, according to discussions with physicians, law-enforcement officials and families involved.

A new report by Human Rights Watch based on more than 70 interviews with law-enforcement officials, victims and their families, medical personnel and members of the coalition authority found 25 credible reports of abduction and sexual violence since the war. Baghdadis believe there are far more, and fear is limiting women's role in the capital's economic, social and political life just as Iraq tries to rise from the ashes, the report notes.

(snip)

"We used to patrol all the time before the war," said a senior officer at the Aadimiya precinct house. "Now, nothing, and the criminals realize there is no security on the streets."

more…
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/16/international/worldspecial/16RAPE.html?hp

[October]

1. Even at DU -- no one wants to read/comment on the subject

Why is this subject so taboo?

Remember that total BS campaign when Bush and the republican women declared the "W" in George W. Bush stood for "women."

:puke:

And unfortunately, I'll never forget when Laura Bush (a supposed educated woman) was nearly faint over the idea that the women in Afghanistan couldn't even wear polish on their nails. (The horror!)

Yet they say/do nothing for these women who are raped and then shamed for it, then beaten or worse.

[oldcoot]

2. It is fairly late in most of the nation

Many people who would comment on this article are probably in bed, so we should bump it up. Hopefully, they will see it in the morning and will be able to comment on the article then.

[flamingyouth]

4. People feel a lot of discomfort about rape

Look at all of the posts here blasting the woman accusing Kobe Bryant of assaulting her, just as an example. (I really don't know anything about the case, other than what I've read here.) I've posted things relating to sexual assault that have totally died on the vine here. I don't think that it's intentional, but I know that people are uncomfortable about it.

I'm a rape survivor myself, so I always read and respond to most of these posts.

[October]

14. Too true

It seems a lot of these (women's) issues die on the vine here, especially those involving sexual assault. There's so much mockery and slamming of women that sometimes I feel as if I'm reading a republican website. Maybe we need our own page.

Notice how even the positive story about Stonehenge disappeared, but not before a lot of ugly anti-female posts.

On another note, I'm sorry about your personal experience, and hope you are well.

[umcwb]

3. Kick, n/t

[juajen]

6. Rape in Iraq

I personally don't believe we have enough information to comment. Is this a result of the breakdown of civil services in Iraq or is this being done by American soldiers? Either way, it's terrible, but I still say we do not have enough information.

We all know that there are not enough forces in Iraq, particularly Baghdad. I have read that in all of the major cities crime is rampant. Our soldiers stay on the main streets because death or attack is probable off the main streets. I assume this is so for Iraqi policeman also.

This is just another horrible consequence of this stupid war. Saddam ruled with an iron fist, but it seems probable that that fist is being missed right now because it imposed order. All is chaos now and making it even more distressing is that we do not seem to be getting good reporting and information from there. Put into the equation 150,000 troops, away from home and people they know and love, hormones raging, and you have a dangerous mix. Also soldiers from the other side could be doing some of this damage for the same reasons. This has always been the horrible downside of war and it continues. Restoring order, which isn't being done, would go a long way towards stopping some of this, for what thats worth.

[I AM SPARTACUS]

5. Human Rights Watch's report...

http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/409f5aeb1db3be3049256d6500005dae?OpenDocument

and:
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/9ca65951ee22658ec125663300408599/46520cefc858b91b49256d650000a3f3?OpenDocument

<snip...>
(New York, July 16, 2003) The insecurity plaguing Baghdad and other Iraqi cities has a distinct and debilitating impact on the daily lives of women and girls, preventing them from participating in public life at a crucial time in their country's history, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The 17-page report, "Climate of Fear: Sexual Violence and Abduction of Women and Girls in Baghdad," concludes that the failure of Iraqi and U.S.-led occupation authorities to provide public security in Iraq's capital lies at the root of a widespread fear of rape and abduction among women and their families.

"Women and girls today in Baghdad are scared, and many are not going to schools or jobs or looking for work," said Hanny Megally, executive director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch. "If Iraqi women are to participate in postwar society, their physical security needs to be an urgent priority."
<snip...more>

[IndianaGreen]

7. BBC: Baghdad sexual violence 'rising'

America bears full responsibility for this. None of this would be happening had we allowed the UN inspections to go forward. All of those that voted for the war, Republican and Democrat alike, as well as those that supported the war, bear their own share of responsibility for the consequences of that war.

In addition to this, you have women being forced to wear the veil under pain of physical abuse or death. This is something that Iraqi women never had to suffer under the Saddam regime!

Last Updated: Wednesday, 16 July, 2003, 02:49 GMT 03:49 UK
Baghdad sexual violence 'rising'

By Pam O'Toole
BBC regional analyst

Sexual attacks have increased in Baghdad since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, according to a new report.

The US-based Human Rights Watch says the rise in sexual violence is driving women indoors, and preventing them from taking part in Iraq's public life at a crucial time.

The failure of the US led coalition forces and civilian administration in Baghdad to provide public security has made females more vulnerable to sexual violence and abduction, the report says.

It also claims that not enough is being done to investigate such crimes.

Human Rights Watch says the fear of sexual violence is such that many women in Baghdad are too scared to leave their homes, even to attend school or go to work.

Its researchers say there has undoubtedly been a rise in the number of rapes in the city since the end of the war.

And for the first time, there are reports of girls and women being abducted from the street, sometimes in broad daylight.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3070063.stm

[oldcoot]

9. Thank you for posting this article

We like to congratulate ourselves for liberating the Iraqi people. However, when one looks at the treatment of women and children in the "New Iraq," one wonders whether or not we are congratulating ourselves too quickly.

[oldcoot]

8. Gulf War I

I remember hearing about Iraqi soldiers raping women in Kuwait during the first Gulf War. Tragically, these women were ostracized by their fellow countrymen and women because they were raped. I wonder if we are seeing the same thing in Iraq today.

[msanger]

10. forward this to your friends

This is the kind of thing that brings home the evil of bush's lies.

Bush Lies, America Dies, Iraqi Cries

[Ripley]

11. But at least their children aren't being boiled alive!

By Saddam...that's what the repuke answer to this situation would be if asked about it, which of course they aren't. It is a really sick situation when atrocities like this are not considered worth mentioning in the TV news or worth the military's concern.

But as some genius wrote in my local paper, "Why do people complain about the number of soldiers killed in Iraq? I mean many more people are killed every week in our major cities like Atlanta, Detroit, etc." I guess as long as the rapes are at an "acceptable" level compared to American cities, who cares?

[MsLeopard]

12. Air Force Academy

Given our history with dealing with rape in this country, it will probably take about 25 years for American occupiers to address the issue.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi MsLeopard!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MaineDem]

13. This is horrid

But not unexpected. For as long as there have been wars there have been cases of rape.

I remember reading a book about this many years ago by Susan Brownmiller. I seem to remember that the VietCong didn't use rape as a rule.

In any case, it has to be easier for these crimes to be reported. The women and girls have to be treated as victims. Why are our soldiers there if not to create a stable life for these people? I hope to God we actually DO make things better for them.