Girl Blog From
Iraq Speaks
By Firas Al-Atraqchi
03 April, 2005
Aljazeera
A
young Iraqi woman, who was one of the first to start a blog
on conditions in the wake of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, tells
how life has changed since the first bombs started falling and martial
law was imposed.
Identifying herself
as Riverbend on the blog she calls Baghdad Burning, the 26-year-old
computer specialist became distinct from other bloggers because she
offered a refreshing woman's perspective of events in her city, Baghdad.
Aljazeera.net:
The period for martial law enacted by interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad
Allawi's government expired this week. Has martial law been effective
in stemming the tide of violence?
Riverbend:
Not really. We have a curfew at night (after 11pm) but a lot of the
violence is occurring in broad daylight - exploding vehicles, attacks
with mortar and abductions occur in broad daylight.
It has created a
different sort of violence. It has given the new Iraqi security forces,
such as the National Guard, the right to invade Iraqi houses and detain
people who are under "suspicion" without any semblance of
proof. It also gives them the right to shoot at cars which may appear
"suspicious".
Are you saying
there has been no change in violence and lawlessness?
There has been a
decided change in the violence. In the beginning, the violence seemed
more random. Now, the gangs and criminals seem more organised and the
violence is a different sort.
We're hearing more
and more of intellectuals such as doctors and professors being made
targets for abductions and shootings.
There has also been
an increase in car bombers and attacks which Iraqis find mystifying
as this sort of attack has never been a part of Iraqi history.
You have written
extensively on how life has changed for women in Baghdad and the rest
of Iraq. How have conditions changed? Have they become better or worse?
Baghdad is not safe
at all for women. We cannot go out alone - even during broad daylight.
Areas differ in danger, but generally it is not a good idea for a woman
go out walking alone or even driving.
The attacks against
women seem to have increased over the last two years and the reasons
vary. Professional women are being pressured to quit their jobs and
even young women in colleges and high schools are not immune from harassment.
Many women are being
pressured to wear headscarves (hijabs). There are certain areas in Baghdad
where you cannot go without wearing a headscarf and there is not any
security force to protect women from that sort of harassment.
Many high-profile
women have been harassed and threatened. One famous female gynaecologist
was abducted and threatened upon release that if she did not leave the
country, she would be killed the next time around.
How then do Iraqis
go about their daily lives? You paint a rather dismal picture. Do Iraqis
go out to clubs, restaurants, parks etc?
Baghdad has some
exclusive clubs that are frequented by members of those clubs (although
less than before). We sometimes go out to restaurants but usually in
big groups of males and females.
Parks are less popular
than before because they have become a haven for drug pushers, peddlers
and gangs.
Additional problems
with security include the fact that many of the gangs and petty criminals
are bribing police officers and Iraqi security to turn a blind eye to
shootings, looting and more organised crime such as armed robbery or
abductions.
Martial law has
done nothing to curb that sort of violence.
Do you have hope
that the security situation will improve?
I think the situation
will get better only when the Americans allow it to get better. I think
the current lawlessness justifies their reasons for having troops inside
of the country.