Bush Iraqi Guest at SOU slams loss of rights under draft constitution

[Inland]

Here;s what Bush said when allowing Al-Suhail to congratulate him, the SOU Feb. 3, 2005:

One of Iraq's leading democracy and human rights advocates is Safia Taleb al-Suhail. She says of her country, "we were occupied for 35 years by Saddam Hussein. That was the real occupation. ... Thank you to the American people who paid the cost ... but most of all to the soldiers." Eleven years ago, Safia's father was assassinated by Saddam's intelligence service. Three days ago in Baghdad, Safia was finally able to vote for the leaders of her country -- and we are honored that she is with us tonight.

Here's what she said yesterday as Bush's promises failed to materialize:

"Human rights should not be linked to Islamic Sharia law at all. It should be listed separately in the constitution," said Safia Souhail, Iraq's ambassador to Egypt.

The prominent women's rights campaigner denounced wording that grants each religious sect the right to run its own family courts -- apparently doing away with previous civil codes -- as an open door to further Islamicise the legal system.

Although in practice, many Iraqis end up having recourse to religious authorities or informal tribal law, the idea of a united civil code is central to the modern state, Souhail said.

"This will lead to creating religious courts. But we should be giving priority to the law," she said.

"When we came back from exile, we thought we were going to improve rights and the position of women. But look what has happened -- we have lost all the gains we made over the last 30 years. It's a big disappointment."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/02/02/sotu.transcript.6/index.html

http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-24T144832Z_01_SCH449958_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-IRAQ-SECULARISTS-C-COL.XML

[EC]

1. She shouldn't have counted on such a loser

to make her life better...too bad...

[Inland]

3. We could have warned her. nt

[tonkatoy57]

2. It's Like Clockwork

As predictable as the spring rains, snow in January, the Good Humor truck on a hot August night, is the fact that anyone who believes anything that George Bush says is a fool.

Yet another person who hitched their wagon to George Bush gets punked. How predictable and how sad for all the women in Iraq.

Oh yeah, reason number 1,562 to justify this desert misadventure goes right down the tubes. Hey girls, get ready for Sharia law. Maybe Laura Bush will give another glassy eyed speech about how her Dub is bringing joy and enlightment to the dark skinned womenfolk of the Middle East.

Jeez, these people make me want to run screaming down the middle of the street.

[Inland]

4. Yep. Just another disappointment of people relying on Bush.

I feel for her.