Violence against Iraqi women continues unabated
Report, IRIN (Dec 1, 2008)
"Iraqi women have seen their rights eroded in all areas of life while
the world observes from afar," warns the Special Rapporteur on Violence
Against Women, its causes and consequences, Ms. Yakin Ertuerk, on the
International Day on the Elimination of Violence Against Women. "The ongoing conflict, high levels of insecurity, widespread impunity,
collapsing economic conditions and rising social conservatism are
impacting directly on the daily lives of Iraqi women and placing them
under increased vulnerability to all forms of violence within and
outside their home", says Ms. Ertuerk.
Iraqi politicians ponder Obama strategy on Iraq
Basim Al-Shara, Zaineb Naji, Frman Abdul-Rahman, Institute for War and Peace Reporting (Nov 10, 2008)
Political leaders here do not see substantial near-term changes in
United States policies toward Iraq despite president-elect Barack
Obama's pledge to withdraw American forces and curb development
assistance.
Is the U.S. Pushing Arab capitals on ambassadors?
Adam Morrow and Khaled Moussa al-Omrani, Inter Press Service (Nov 10, 2008)
More than five years after the U.S.-led invasion and occupation of
Iraq, Arab capitals are beginning to send ambassadors to Baghdad. But
some Egyptian commentators question the timing of the move, which they
attribute to pressure from Washington.
Christians trickling back to their homes in Mosul
Report, IRIN (Nov 6, 2008)
About 400 Christian families have returned to
their homes in the northern city of Mosul after a spate of threats and
killings led them to flee in early October, according to officials. "We have so far registered nearly 400 Christian families who have
returned to their houses and jobs, and resumed normal lives thanks to
the deployment of security forces," said Jawdat Ismaiel, head of the
Ministry of Displacement and Migration in the province.
Iraqi refugee women and girls in Jordan: “Rape is a death sentence”
Report, Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children (Nov 4, 2008)
The Iraqi doctor looked us
straight into the eyes and said "I would rather be dead than tell
anyone I have been raped." If this woman—a highly educated, successful
doctor working for the UN— wouldn't speak out, who would?
The Map of Electoral Coalitions South of Baghdad Is Taking Shape
Reidar Visser, Historiae (Oct 31, 2008)
After a long series of extensions, it now seems as if the final
deadline for forming coalitions for the next local elections in Iraq
will be on November 2, 2008. The first announcement of coalitions among
the Shiite Islamist parties is one of the indicators that suggest the
coalition-forming process could be coming to an end.
![](/images/nav/pixel.gif"){kind=tracking}
