Islamic Law Controls the Streets of Basra

[wookie294]

BASRA, Iraq — Physicians have been beaten for treating female patients. Liquor salesmen have been killed. Even barbers have faced threats for giving haircuts judged too short or too fashionable.

Religion rules the streets of this once cosmopolitan city, where women no longer dare go out uncovered.

<snip>

"This is the democracy of 2005," Shedar said. "We expected improvement, but now there's no freedom in the streets for the women. People are afraid."

The militiamen carry out political assassinations and dole out punishment for alleged religious infractions, residents say.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-basra27jun27,0,5239723.story?coll=la-home-headlines

(Theocracy rules southern Iraq)

[K8-EEE]

1. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH!

I feel so bad for the Iraqi people, especially the women.

[barb162]

9. There is no way the USA ever could have changed

the cultural/religious stuff there or another country other than by killing huge numbers of people. Similar to Mao in China in the 1940s-60s

[VegasWolf]

12. If we had an administration with even a modicum of historical knowledge

then this would have self-evident. Instead we have an administration
that merely knows how to smear and blackmail its opponents and to
steal elections. This America stinks.

[barb162]

13. Exactly. Trying to change this type of culture to a New England

style republic is a joke. Religious law is steeped in their brains from the second they are born and it permeates every aspect of their lives. If a woman even tries to act modern, she better have good body guards. I think the way this will all turn out is there will be 3 separate states, Kurds, Shiites and Sunni. Women will be fucked and any educated women will try to get the hell out of that country

[madeline_con]

2. "Religion rules the streets ..."

DUH-bya's brand of Democracy has destroyed Iraq. People are reverting to the old trid and true ways before modernization came along. It makes them feel safe. At least, the men. And they control the women.

Think about it. If you were a somewhat religious Muslim, and you looked at all that's been going...

Imagine what the Iraqis probably see the troops do in some cases, not just the killing but partying and just crazy ass s#it off duty.

They probably feel they need to protect their old societal ways, or the whole country will look like a military night off. (IMO)

Flame away, fellow DUers :hide:

[mom cat]

5. No flames here, just sad agreement with your assessment.

There is an old truism in psychology: under stress we all regress. That seems to be what is happening in Iraq.

[madeline_con]

17. "... under stress we all regress ..."

We hear conflicting stories about Middle Eastern women. They're doctors, lawyers, etc. They're beaten and abused, and have no rights.

Both are true, really depending on the personal situation of the woman. We have the same here in the States, but not on such a large scale, I guess.

[barb162]

11. "has destroyed Iraq"

You know, totally shitting on women for centuries is not exactly something that I think is acceptable. Now they did have peace and working systems of a sort before we came there in certain areas of the country. But certainly not the entire country. Now things have shifted badly for some although things have improved for the Kurds and others.

You know, you cannot suddenly resurrect a Republic form of government with WOMEN and men voting in a Moslem pre feudal religion based society or dictatorship.

[madeline_con]

18. I'll tell you a little story...

I have very mixed feelings about the politics and culture of the region.

I was once married to a Middle Eastern man. I'll stop there...

[LynnTheDem]

3. Less freedom, worse off.

But Hussein is gone. So what if they're worse off now.

:eyes:

[DeepModem Mom]

4. kick

[Spazito]

6. Isn't Basra the British 'success'?

Yep, seems like it is:

Basra: British troops in Iraq's 'peaceful' city
(from Sept.04)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3676308.stm



So, success is defined by blair as handing the city over to the fundamentalists it seems.

[Roland99]

8. But, hey, no car bombs. It's all good.

:sarcasm:

[Supersedeas]

7. Freedom on the march

[The Stranger]

10. Is torture and "extraordinary rendition" legalized over there also?

Maybe it would make a good place for "extraordinary rendition" of suspects in U.S. custody.

[SoCalDem]

14. If they had wanted "democracy" they've only had 5,000 years or so

and could have "had it" whenever they wanted.

We cannot FORCE people to think differently, no matter how many bombs we drop on them...any more than we can force them to like us.

[Roland99]

15. Sure the U.S. can. Esp. when corporate profits are at risk!

[Cocoa]

16. every part of Iraq would make this tradeoff

if they had the chance, the cities being blown up with car bombs would hand over their freedom to the Taliban just to have security. :-(