Politics | 03/09/2009 10:45 am

Withdrawing Resignation, Iraq's Minister of Women's Affairs Blasts Government

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Former Iraqi lawmaker Nawal al-Samarrai is speaking out against the government’s apparent lack of interest in women’s right.

The nation’s minister on Women’s Affairs, al-Samarrai first crossed our radar earlier this year, when she offered to resign from her post due to the government’s lack of resources and apparent interest in benefiting the nation’s women.

Said al-Samarrai yesterday, which was also International Women’s Day,

I was convinced that I could improve conditions for women, but I ran into a wall … the occupation, terrorism, the economy collapsing … all that produced an army of widows, an increase in the number of divorcees, unmarried women, women beggars. Society is falling apart and me, I was a minister in a ministry without means, without power, without offices outside Baghdad.

She continued, "Women’s issues are not a priority for the government. But if women were helped, I think that half of the social problems would be resolved."

Frustrated, al-Samarrai tendered her resignation, but ceded to three international groups who urged her to stand her ground, according to reports. Her announcement came just one day after the non-profit Oxfam issued a report that insisted Iraq’s women are living amidst a "silent emergency" of poverty, violence and general insecurity.

5 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I don’t know. I’d like to see help for women over there. It’s their government. It goes by the old ways, run by old fashion men’s views, who stay in position for life. Turn over in the government doesn’t happen often enough. So the majority of the people accept this way.

I can see help is not there for the women and young girls. I wish to see change.

By Grande Camper on 03/09/2009 11:41 am

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Having the position is at least a toe in the door. Even if all she can do is hit the men over the head with the (maybe mythical rather than proverbial) frying pan, it is at least a start.

Organizing women, sponsoring petitions, if she can do nothing inside the box, there is always the outside. She is sorely needed, and I wish her the best!

By Zera Lee on 03/09/2009 12:47 pm

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Woo-hoo! Both for al-Summarai and the three international groups (that I guess must remain anonymous) that urged her to stand her ground. I hope more "groups" jump on this woman’s bandwagon!

By Ms. Dee on 03/09/2009 1:05 pm

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This is very sad to women like us in America and in European countries. However, what we know was that our fight for women’s rights were also a struggle. I hope they will continue to fight "the fight." They must persevere and be relentless in their drive towards equal rights at home and in the workplace. Although they cannot envision any changes at this stage of their struggle, their daughters will reap the rewards of their quest to not take "no" for an answer. I hope this woman never gives up. And, I hope other centers of influence rally around her.

Old habits can be broken.

By deber B on 03/09/2009 1:55 pm

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I never thought she’d actually resign. I always thought that yes she was probably frustrated, but that the threat of resignation was simply a way to draw attention to the issues women face in Iraq. She could certainly do more by remaining on, no matter how slowly, than by withdrawing.

By Lucinda Herbert on 03/14/2009 10:45 pm