Islamic State’s Crimes Against Women And Girls…The self-styled Islamic State (ISIS or Da’ish), that has seized control of parts of Iraq and Syria, is a dogmatic and violent movement, its patriarchal fascism expressed in extreme abuse of women and girls including abduction, rape and sexual slavery. This is not a conflict between ‘Muslims and the rest’. The fundamentalism characterized by ISIS is opposed by the vast majority of Muslims.
Solidarity with Iraqi, Syrian and Kurdish Women…Women in Black support the Iraqi Women’s Network, which consists of over 90 NGOs throughout Iraq, in calling for urgent local, regional and international action to protect the women, particularly of Yazedi, Christian, Turkmen, Shabak and Kurdish minorities, that have fallen into the hands of ISIS.
We Join with the London-based Kurdish Roj Women’s Association and associated groups in campaigning for British Government engagement to end these crimes, bring perpetrators to justice, and secure peace in the region, with respect for human rights, freedom of belief, pluralism and democracy.
Air Strikes Won’t End Crime Against Women… Meanwhile the US, France and other countries are themselves breaching international law in launching air strikes without a United Nations resolution. We fear their bombs and missiles may kill as many civilians as combatants, and are likely to increase support far and wide for the ideology of ISIS. Indeed it seems likely that ISIS’ video-ed assassinations of US and other hostages are intended precisely to provoke such “revenge”.
Double Standards: Barbarity Against Women Among Allies…The US’ chosen allies in their military intervention include Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and other states in which women’s and human rights are profoundly abused, and brutal forms of punishment are practised. Their governments are tolerating material support of ISIS by Qatari and Saudi organizations. ISIS’ modern fire-power comes from the USA, whose arms sales to Saudi Arabia totalled $33 billion in a recent year.
Support: Iraq Women’s Network < http://www.aina.org/news/20140903021449.htm>
Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq < http://www.owfi.info/EN/> and Roj Women’s Assn
<http://rojwomen.org/> and Women Living Under Muslim Laws <http://www.wluml.org/>
We agree with the arguments expressed above and join with Women in Black in calling on the British Government to:
desist from illegal military intervention in the Middle East;
embargo all arms sales and transfers to and within the region;
pressure the Iraqi Government to integrate disenfranchised Sunnis and minorities;
pressure the Syrian Government stop aggressing its people and hold democratic elections;
prompt a UN peacekeeping mission and UN-sponsored peace negotiations;
engage regional governments in diplomacy for peace;
massively increase donations to UN humanitarian aid agencies.
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Women in Black, C/o The Maypole Fund, PO Box 14072, London N16 5WB Donations for leaflets etc most welcome. www.womeninblack.org.uk
Women in Black holds vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London WC2. The vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black.