Quick Hit: Eighteen Female Insurgents Turn Themselves In
The New York Times reports that eighteen female insurgents turned themselves in to American-led forces in Iraq in accordance with a new amnesty plan. The women, said to have been signed over to Al Qaeda by father and mullahs, are asked to sign their allegiance to the formal political process, disavow violence, and in exchange, they will receive protection. (They will still face criminal charges.)
Wouldn't it have been fascinating to be a fly on the wall as these women discussed and planned their communal surrender?
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I wonder what the effect of serving prison sentences would be on these women. Can the Iraqi government provide suitable prison accomodation which will ensure they really do follow through on their pledge?
I imagine it went something like this.
Cell Leader: "I think the problem is we're working with a very limited set of tools here. We can't car bomb the Americans because we aren't allowed to drive. We can't set up roadside bombs, because it's hard to stay stealthy when you have to drag an idiot male family member with you just to leave the house. And I keep getting my voluminous black garments caught in the slide catch of these AK-47s."
Insurgent: "I know. Oh, by the way, it turns out black is not good camouflage for the desert. Just an FYI."
Insurgent 2: "Why exactly did our families think this was a good idea? I don't know the first thing about bombs or guns or anything, seeing as I wasn't, you know, educated."
Insurgent 3: "I bet the woman in the American army don't to deal with this."
*Exchange glances*
Cell Leader: "Are you pondering what I'm pondering?"
(To quote a certain rooster, it's a joke, son. I don't want to make light of the situation, but I couldn't help myself)
I know you're not being serious, but because generalisations about Islam and the Middle East are my pet peeve right now you'll have to forgive me clarifying your joke. :)
Women in Iraq aren't banned from driving or leaving the house alone or going unveiled. Due to the security situation and extremist militias, women have been discouraged from these activities, which is terrible. But Iraqi culture is not like Saudi culture or Afghan culture, or even like Iranian culture. And Iraqi law is not like Saudi law or like Iranian law.
I don't want to suggest Iraqi women haven't suffered a great deal of restrictions to their freedoms particularly in recent times, but I'm so fed up of people imagining that Islamic law and the cultures of Muslim countries are one and the same.
Given that extremist al-Qaeda types often have interesting interpretations of Islamic scripture (to say the least!) I don't think we can even make that many assumptions about how these women live. But it would be interesting to know.
P.S I had someone jump on me tonight for daring to suggest Islam might not always be an impediment to women's education. I'm kind of cranky about this stuff right now!
Women in Iraq aren't banned from driving or leaving the house alone or going unveiled. Due to the security situation and extremist militias, women have been discouraged from these activities, which is terrible.
That's a fine distinction you're making there. Not allowed to drive by law/leave the house alone/go out unveiled versus not allowed to drive/etc/etc b/c you've been "discouraged" from doing so doesn't make a damn bit of difference to the woman who can't drive.
I knew that (in fact, I wrote a huge sprawling essay on Middle Eastern culture and it's diversity for my Challenge and Change class). However, Al-Qaeda has a lot of roots in Saudi Arabia and a great deal of its mindset is influenced by Saudi culture, so I went with it. As a comic artist, I've long accepted you need to stretch the truth or make assumptions sometimes in the name of funny, and hope nobody calls you out, and I'm glad you were so understanding.
Sorry, I've just come across a few too many people who have no concept of diversity existing in the Middle East. :)
I'm by no means an expert but I've lived and travelled in the Middle East a bit and it really gets my goat that people -- even well-educated people -- feel it's okay to assign xyz problem to the backwardness "Islam" or "Arabs". As if "Islam" is one great homogenous thing and all Muslims have exactly the same interpretation and practice of their religion.
Cross cultural understanding would be sooo much helped if more people could conceive of the complexities of religion. It's shockingly acceptable to make racist generalisations particularly about Muslim countries, and pointing out how racist these are usually leads to being told I'm making light of racism and of course it's a statement of fact that "Islam" oppresses women/[insert generalised statement here].
Excuse the off topic rant. :)
For this reason it has given the order on a withdrawal of American troops from Iraq till 2012. After that the president of America, for a short while having glanced in the military hospital of the USA largest in Europe near Wiesbaden where the American soldiers wounded in Iraq are treated, has gone straight to France, on celebrating of the 65 anniversary of disembarkation of armies of allies in Normandy.