IRAQ: Women's movement under attack

Lisa Macdonald

In December, the pro-US Patriotic Union of Kurdistan twice threatened to shut down the Suleimaniyiah office of the Organisation of Women's Freedom in Iraq. The PUK's security forces claim that the OWFI does not have a "licence" to operate an office. OWFI activists have been warned not to conduct any political activity.

In 2000, PUK forces shut down the Women's Protection Centre in the same city, resulting in the murder and torture of many of the women who were being sheltered there after escaping domestic violence.

The OWFI is calling for supporters of women's rights around the world to pressure on the PUK to end to its attacks on the right of Iraqi women to organise and exercise their political freedom.

Please email protest messages to <pukusa@puk.org>, <pukaus@mail.com> or fax them to (02) 9790 7009. Send copies of protest letters to <owfi_campaign@hotmail.com>.

From Green Left Weekly, January 14, 2004.

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From GLW issue 566