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International Women's Day: Iraqi Women in Exile
January 13, 2009 | Vanessa Parra |
In honor of International Women's Day on March 8th, Refugees International is taking this week on our blog to focus on the stories of refugee women from around the world.
A recent National Public Radio story, “Iraqi Militias Target Women,” shed some light on the situation for Iraqi refugee women in exile. The women featured were each located in different countries but their reasons for leaving Iraq were similar. Rima worked for an aid organization inside Iraq before traveling to Syria. Her reason for leaving Iraq was simple: “So many times I went to places that poor women were living. They [the militias] knew me, they knew my face.” Another woman, who served as a translator for an aid organization and is now living in Jordan, fled Iraq for fear of her own safety. When asked if it was more dangerous for her because she was a woman or a translator, her response was, “woman.”
One story familiar to Refugees International is Basima, formerly the head librarian at Mosul University. She was threatened by militants because of her headscarf and now lives in Lebanon. Her interview on NPR drew on her playful personality. Reporter Deborah Amos describes her as a “dignified middle aged woman [who] displays a wicked sense of humor when it comes to the young men who dictated her headgear.” RI staff members first met with Basima when they visited the home she shares with her younger brother, his wife and their three children in the Fanar suburb of Beirut. While in Lebanon, the RI team visited many families assisted by CARITAS and Basima’s family was one of them. These are just some examples of the brave, courageous women who have been forced to leave Iraq, but hope for better lives and a better future for their country and their families.
During that mission last fall, RI drew attention to Iraqi refugees imprisoned in Lebanon and facing deportation. Last week, the Government of Lebanon agreed to provide all Iraqis with a three-month grace period and the opportunity to stay longer if they find employers to sponsor them. Iraqi refugees detained for staying in the country illegally are also set to be released in the coming weeks and months. For the over 4.5 million displaced Iraqis within and outside Iraq, efforts like these are important signs of progress in the region. In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to ensure that the international community continues to respond to the needs of Iraqi refugees.
--Vanessa Parra
A recent National Public Radio story, “Iraqi Militias Target Women,” shed some light on the situation for Iraqi refugee women in exile. The women featured were each located in different countries but their reasons for leaving Iraq were similar. Rima worked for an aid organization inside Iraq before traveling to Syria. Her reason for leaving Iraq was simple: “So many times I went to places that poor women were living. They [the militias] knew me, they knew my face.” Another woman, who served as a translator for an aid organization and is now living in Jordan, fled Iraq for fear of her own safety. When asked if it was more dangerous for her because she was a woman or a translator, her response was, “woman.”
One story familiar to Refugees International is Basima, formerly the head librarian at Mosul University. She was threatened by militants because of her headscarf and now lives in Lebanon. Her interview on NPR drew on her playful personality. Reporter Deborah Amos describes her as a “dignified middle aged woman [who] displays a wicked sense of humor when it comes to the young men who dictated her headgear.” RI staff members first met with Basima when they visited the home she shares with her younger brother, his wife and their three children in the Fanar suburb of Beirut. While in Lebanon, the RI team visited many families assisted by CARITAS and Basima’s family was one of them. These are just some examples of the brave, courageous women who have been forced to leave Iraq, but hope for better lives and a better future for their country and their families.
During that mission last fall, RI drew attention to Iraqi refugees imprisoned in Lebanon and facing deportation. Last week, the Government of Lebanon agreed to provide all Iraqis with a three-month grace period and the opportunity to stay longer if they find employers to sponsor them. Iraqi refugees detained for staying in the country illegally are also set to be released in the coming weeks and months. For the over 4.5 million displaced Iraqis within and outside Iraq, efforts like these are important signs of progress in the region. In the meantime, we will continue our efforts to ensure that the international community continues to respond to the needs of Iraqi refugees.
--Vanessa Parra
Labels: Iraqi Refugees
