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Iraq-Dhi Qar
Around this time last year, a researcher visiting a series of remote hills in Iraq’s southern Dhi Qar governorate known for their archeological bounty made a startling find—albeit something far more sinister than cuneiform tablets. Buried deep in the ground were the remains of a murdered woman, likely the victim of yet another honor killing. Iraqs secret hills of women
The gruesome discovery was not the first time a woman has been found dead in those hills, which are known to locals as ‘Nishan’ and which a variety of tribes claim ownership of. The most well-known of these ‘Nishan’ are referred to as Al-Duhaila and Abu Tabira.
According to the researcher, who wished to remain anonymous for security reasons, an Italian mission excavating near the ancient city of Ur had previously discovered bones that upon further examination were found to belong to a woman who had been killed in recent years. Amwaj.media could not independently verify the burial of women in the area, but anecdotal data suggests that the practice does occur. Iraqs secret hills of women
Fatima, 17, recalls the day her father killed his own younger 26-year-old sister for refusing to get married, and after being accused of having premarital sex. Iraqs secret hills of women
“I will not forget that day. She was terrified and blood covered her face,” “They brought her home for the women to see and be a lesson for those intending to rebel.”
While from the provincial capital of Nasiriyah, Fatima says her aunt was buried in one of the remote ‘Nishan’. “Only my father knows the place of her grave and refuses to let any of the family’s women know where it is because he said that she was guilty and doesn’t deserve visits to her grave or prayers.” Iraqs secret hills of women
Some locals bury victims of honor crimes in these hills for two different reasons, archaeological researcher Muntadher Aloda, who has worked across central and southern Iraq, said: Iraqs secret hills of women
First, they believe that immoral women will be purged of their sins if buried in these lands, which contain shrines for religious figures. The other motive is to avoid being implicated in the crime. The remote areas, which contain many covered archaeological treasures, are protected by law from being dug up without approval, thus making it far less likely for a body to be discovered. Iraqs secret hills of women
Unknown scale of violence against women
Gender-based violence, including the domestic kind, is widespread in Iraq, where practices such as tribes exchanging women to resolve conflicts remain. However, gender-based violence goes beyond tribal conflicts, and experts say the law does not protect the most vulnerable.
While the Iraqi constitution prohibits “all forms of violence and abuse in the family,” the criminal code allows a husband to “punish” his wife or children “within limits prescribed by law or custom.” Only the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq has a law on domestic violence. Moreover, the Iraqi penal code encourages lighter sentences when “honorable motives” are involved. Iraqs secret hills of women
Government figures released in 2007 indicate that one in five Iraqi women are subject to physical violence. Moreover, a 2012 study from the country’s planning ministry found that more than a third of married women reported some form of psychological abuse, over a fifth verbal abuse, and, almost one in ten sexual violence. Iraqs secret hills of women
But even these disconcerting figures may be a severe underestimation. Serious questions have been raised about the accuracy of the existing statistics due to the difficulties in collecting data, and obstacles women face when reporting crimes to the police. Iraqs secret hills of women
Moreover, honor killings are notably among the most misreported forms of violence against women. Such crimes are often recorded as suicides or heart attacks on death certificates, Ammar Ali, a doctor working at a hospital in southern Iraq, asserted. He claimed that medical staff are often coerced into falsifying the causes of death, fearing tribal retribution if they refuse. Iraqs secret hills of women
The indicators used to track these kinds of violence are also flawed. According to the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Iraqi authorities say they do not document the use of weapons in cases of violence against women. But this kind of tracking is sorely needed given the proliferation of arms and the growing power of armed groups in Iraq. Sources tell as well as prior reports have asserted that armed groups have since the US-led invasion in 2003 in instances killed women under the guise of violating “morality” after being accused of prostitution, or even failing to observe the Islamic hijab. Iraqs secret hills of women
Of further note, and as Major Karim Muhammad from a local community policing directorate in Dhi Qar governorate said that, in many murder cases with female victims, the crimes have been perpetrated by relatives over inheritance.
Stalled anti-domestic violence bill
For years, Iraqi lawmakers have left an anti-domestic violence bill that would strengthen the abilities of courts to punish perpetrators languishing on the parliament floor. Iraqs secret hills of women
Religious parties have rejected the draft legislation, arguing that it contradicts religious obligations and men’s ability to assert control over their wives and daughters. Iraqs secret hills of women
Those who have rejected the law include the leader of the armed group Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais Al-Khazali, who in August last year statedthat the proposed law “aims to dismantle the values of society.” He also accused the US of using the legislation to attack Iraqi values.
All in all, given these obstructions to legal reform to stop domestic violence, and the absence of safe shelters, Iraqi women seeking safety and justice in the face of gender-based violence have few options. Iraq’s secret hills of ‘women’
The article published with Amwaj Media