THE US, THE UN AND THE IRAQIS THEMSELVES, V. 7.0

6. Jaafari: Iraq headed toward Religious Law On th...
Jaafari: Iraq headed toward Religious Law

On the second anniversary of the launching of the Iraq War, crowds demonstrated throughout the world. Among the larger rallies were those in London (45,000) and Istanbul (15,000). The crowds were smaller than those that demonstrated in late winter 2003 as the war was gearing up.

Such relatively large anti-American demonstrations in Turkey, which has long had secular governments and been pro-Western, are particularly worrisome.

Prospective Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim Jaafari has given an interview to Der Spiegel, to appear Tuesday, in which he says his government will press for the implementation of religious law in personal status matters:


' "It's understandable in a country where the majority of people are Muslim . . . Iraq should become a Muslim country but without falling under the influence of Iran or Saudi Arabia . . . Everyone will have the same rights, even members of the many minor religious communities," he said, explaining there would be multiple forms of jurisprudence. '


Jaafari is using the techniques of misdirection here. The system he is proposing would put Shiites under their ayatollahs with regard to laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance, alimony, custody of children, etc. Sunnis would be under their clergy, and Catholics would be under canon law. Since 97 percent of Iraqis are Muslims, 97 percent will be under shariah or Islamic law.

Jaafari hastens to say women will not be made to veil. But in fact, in Basra and some other parts of Iraq, Sadrist and Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq young men are forcing girls to veil in public already. Nor is veiling the main issue in women's status. Jaafari's system will give girls half the amount of inheritance that their brothers receive, and may well make women's testimony worth half that of a man in court. If strict gender segregation is enforced, and coeducation ended, Iraqi women may find it difficult to get post-BA training, since they won't be allowed in the professional schools (now coded as "male"), and mostly won't have professional schools for women, or in any case many fewer than for men.

How far the system goes toward that of Iran or Saudi Arabia remains to be seen. Just having personal status law judged according to religion is the same system that exists in Israel and Lebanon, so it isn't exactly the end of the world or unprecedented (Iraqi personal status law was religious before the 1958 revolution).
Sun, Mar 20, 2005 0:30

Report: 108 Died In U.S. Custody

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2005

(AP) At least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently, according to government data provided to The Associated Press. Roughly a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.

The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed.

The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials. It includes deaths attributed to natural causes.

ican, You were talking about Japan's attack on the US, and Germany's attack on Poland. My answer to you concerned Japan's attack on the US. Maybe you missed that.

I would like to proceed this post with the following statement: I don't support war in any way, no matter whose side we are talking about. I believe a dead Iraqi is the same as a dead American. Therefore, I neither support nor condone the actions of the insurgents in Iraq.

Official Transcript of Communiqué No.7 Letter to the American People People of America

...

We share these thoughts with great honesty, to those of you who spent days & nights trying to prevent this war. Timeless efforts to prevent this real holocaust.

To all of you we say, you are the true patriots, & thank you for your time.

The Mujahideen Army Baghdad- Republic of Iraq On the 7th of Safar 1426
The 17th of March 2005

Lot of truth in that. Cycloptichorn

An interesting find today, that is completely saddening:

Quote:

Report: 108 Died In U.S. Custody

WASHINGTON, March 16, 2005
...

108. Wonder how high it will go?

Cycloptichorn

Mctag...... one thing you should know, he knows what you know before you know what you know especially when he dos'nt know anything.
Or have you noticed that?

ican, I appreciate your response, however, I have no desire to get into the whole nearly non existence link between AQ and Iraq with you so I am going to skip it and stand by my previous statements.

George

Both climate change and peak oil are predictions. How can I be wrong about something that's in the future?