Women and the Iraqi Constitution

Tomorrow, leaders of major political parties in the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly and the members of the Constitution Drafting Committee will begin debating Iraq’s draft constitution.
One major issue on the table — how to integrate women’s rights into the Iraqi Constitution. Many women’s rights groups have taken issue with a Constitutional reference to Islam as *the source* of legislation not *a source* of legislation. Manal Omar, regional representative in Iraq of Women for Women International, explains that, “Many women are not against Islamic law in the Constitution, but feel that safeguards need to be put in place with regard to interpretations and applications of an overarching Islamic Shariah.” Some women fear that that Shariah law could have a negative impact on a woman’s inheritance, ability to divorce, etc.
Hopefully over the next ten days the Iraqi assembly will recognize that 93% of Iraqi women want their legal rights secured in the new constitution, but I’m not holding my breath. Click here to learn more on the constitutional campaign.