To: All progressive organizations and individuals

On 29 December 2003, the Governing Council passed a resolution No. 137 to cancel the current Iraqi family law in practice since 1959 and introduce the Islamic law (Shari‘a) instead.

We believe that this anti-freedom, misogynist and anti-modernist resolution will push back the Iraqi society to the Stone Age. It will deny the most basic women’s rights gained during decades of relentless struggle and set back their legal status by centuries. If the resolution is to become a law, women in Iraq will become subjects of daily abuses and exploitation for not observing the strict Islamic law and traditions. Polygamy, minor marriage, pleasure marriage (mut‘ah), compulsory hijab, stoning women to death on adultery, acid-throwing on them, flogging for disobeying Islamic laws, beating women by their husbands, sexual segregation in public places will all be lawful. Women will be denied the right to leave the house without the permission of the husband, to travel without a chaperone, continue education after marriage, seek divorce, choose a partner without family’s consent, and custody of children. They will be prohibited from working in many fields and participation in sport, dance, singing or even listening to music.

The current Iraqi family law, which was amended by the Ba‘ath regime, is itself a reactionary and anti-women law based on Shari‘a. It should be replaced by a progressive law that ensure protection of rights of women rather than a reactionary and misogynist law to deny those rights.
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The Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq is running an International Campaign to repeal the Governing Council’s resolution 137. We call on all individuals and progressive organizations to support our campaign.

We request you to sign this petition and defend the rights of women in Iraq.
 http://www.petitiononline.com/OWFI/petition.html

You can also support this campaign by:

· Circulating this petition among friends and relatives and ask them to sign it.
· Writing letters of protest to the Governing Council of Iraq and the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq.
· Contacting human rights organizations and progressive organization and asking them to stand against resolution No. 137.
· Writing to media in your disposal on this issue.
Your support will empower the women’s movement in Iraq.



Nadia Mahmood
Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq
 nadia64uk@yahoo.com