RUBBER MAY BE MEETING THE PAVEMENT IN IRAQ CONCERNING WOMEN IN KEY GOVERNMENTAL POSITIONS

Iraq women lawmakers demand key posts

BAGHDAD - Women members of the Iraqi parliament demanded on Saturday that they be given key posts in the legislature or government, accusing male MPs of “marginalising women.” “We refuse to be marginalised. We think that women, whichever party they may be from are capable of taking posts in parliament,” said Mayssoun Damlouji an MP from the secularist Iraqi National List of former premier Iyad Allawi.
“We demand from these leaders that women be given berths in the government as well as some of the key parliament posts.”
She said despite women holding 70 seats in the 275-member parliament, none of the nine top posts -- three on the presidency, three in the government and three in the assembly -- were being offered to women.

...

“Iraqi women represent more than half of the population of the country and to deny them a political role is not acceptable in a democratic system,” said Safiya Souhail, another MP from Allawi’s list.
She called for modifications in the constitution concerning the status of women.
“This fundamental law does not guarantee women’s rights in a complete way,” she said, referring to articles on the personal status of women with regard to marriage and divorce.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2006/April/focusoniraq_April136.xml&section=focusoniraq

I am waiting with baited breath to see how the Iraqi government is going to apply their new Constition that contains the following:

Article 2:
First: Islam is the official religion of the State and it is a fundamental source of legislation:
A. No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established.
B. No law that contradicts the principles of democracy may be established.
C. No law that contradicts the rights and basic freedoms stipulated in this constitution may be established.
Second: This Constitution guarantees the Islamic identity of the majority of the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice such as Christians, Yazedis, and Mandi Sabeans.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101201450.html

How does Islam treat women?!?
Would you like to know?!?

Renowned Islamic thinker Gazzali listed the following as punishments for what Eve did in "Paradise":

"1. Menstruation
2. Childbirth
3. Separation from father and mother and marriage to a tranger
4. Pregnancy
5. Not having control over her own person
6. A lesser share in inheritance.
7. Her liability to be divorced and inability to divorce.
8. It being lawful for man to have 4 wives but for a woman to have only 1 husband.
9. The fact that she must stay secluded in the house.
10. The fact that she must keep her head covered inside the house.
11. The fact that 2 women's testimonies have to be set against the testimony of one man.
12. The fact that she must not go out of the house unless accompanied by a near relative.
13. The fact that men take part in Friday and feast day funerals while women do not.
14. Disqualification for rulership and judgeship.
15. The fact that merit has 100 components, only one of which is attributable to women while 999 are attributed to men.
16. The fact that if women are profligate they will be given only half as much torment as the rest of the community at the ressurection day.
17. The fact that if their husbands die they must observe a waiting period of 4 months and 10 days before they remarry.
18. The fact that if their husbands divorce them , they must observe a waiting period of 3 months or 3 menstrual periods before remarrying. "

What does the Qur'an say about women you ask?!?
Let me show you some examaples:

[al-Baqarah 2:223] Your wives are as a tilth unto you; so approach your tilth when or how ye will;...
Here you can clearly see how highly Islam treats women. Women in Islam are referred to as fields that are to be cultivated by man. What an honour for a Muslim woman!

[an-Nisa' 4:34] Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because God has given the one more than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what God would have them guard. As to those women on whose part ye fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them, refuse to share their beds, (And last) beat them;

First point to notice here is that Quran clearly states that Men are superior to women. Secondly, Islam instructs that a man should control his women through brutal violence and fear.

[an-Nisa' 4:15](For women) As for those of your women who are guilty of lewdness, ... confine them to the houses until death take them.

[an-Nisa' 4:16](For Men) If two men among you are guilty of lewdness, punish them both. If they repent and amend, Leave them alone;

http://www.derafsh-kaviyani.com/english/women1.html

Do you want to know more?!?

http://www.derafsh-kaviyani.com/women/

http://www.prophetofdoom.net/quotes.aspx?g=405&i=4530

http://debate.domini.org/newton/womeng.html