US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD3516

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003516 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, KWMN, KDEM, IZ, Women's Rights 
SUBJECT: WOMEN ACTIVISTS REACT TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION 
 
REF: BAGHDAD 3382 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4(B) 
AND (D). 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY.  Women activists expressed to Ambassador on 
August 24 their frustration over the new constitution's 
implications for women's rights.  The Ambassador underscored 
that the U.S. had pushed hard on this issue and achieved some 
compromise -- the removal of a time limit to the 25 percent 
quota for female representation in the legislature and 
language referring to Islam as "a" main source instead of 
"the" main source.   The women continue to object to language 
on personal status, the role of Islam, and the limitation of 
quota requirements for female representation in the 
legislature.  They have threatened to lobby against the new 
constitution, but recognize that they do not speak for all 
Iraqi women, many of whom will not oppose the new draft.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
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AMBASSADOR OUTLINES U.S. SUPPORT ON WOMEN'S ISSUES 
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2. (C) At an August 24 meeting with Ambassador, key women 
activists expressed concern about the role of Islam in the 
constitution.  The activists asserted that, even with 
language stating that no legislation can contradict the 
principles of democracy or the rights outlined in other parts 
of the constitution, religious clerics would play a large 
role in determining what this means. 
 
3. (C) The women -- TNA member and Failee Kurd Samia Aziz, 
Gender Advisor to President Talibani Selma Jabou, and women's 
activists Hanaa Edwar and Nisreen al-Amidi -- also 
strenuously objected to language on the regulation of 
personal status.  They stated that even with a civil option 
women, especially those uneducated about their rights, would 
be forced to accept Shari'a by their male family members. 
Damluji also stated that the constitution would not stop 
sheiks marrying very young girls. 
 
4. (C) The Ambassador noted the political realities of the 
TNA.  He emphasized that U.S. efforts had resulted in the 
removal of term limits for the 25 percent quota for female 
representation in the legislature.  He also pointed to the 
fact that, not only was there compromise on the role of Islam 
(from "the" main source to "a" main source), but also that 
the U.S. has insisted on the inclusion of language requiring 
that no law contradict the principles of democracy or the 
basic rights provided for in the constitution. 
 
5. (C) COMMENT: We can expect some women activists to speak 
out against the constitution.  We will continue to engage 
them, but they may well seek to mobilize their networks to 
lobby voters against the constitution.  At the same time, 
they themselves recognize that they are not the voice of all 
Iraqi women.  Many Iraqi women will not oppose the Islamist 
approach (see ref).  END COMMENT 
Khalilzad