After the occupation: Fear of a divided Iraq

After almost nine years, US soldiers are now leaving Iraq. The Americans hope that the war is over for them. The question is if that also goes for the Iraqis. Tension has heightened and a few weeks ago vice president Tariq al-Hashimi fled to Erbil to escape a warrant for his arrest, signed by prime minister Nura al-Maliki. At the same time Maliki is also trying to get rid of vice prime minister Salih al-Mutlak.

- Until now we have been pressured by both Iran and the American occupation. When Saddam was alive we lived in one of the world´s worst dictatorships. But we stuck together; there were bonds between people that now have been broken. The occupation, as well as the interference from Iran and others, have divided us, says Liza Hido, manager of Baghdad Women´s Association, who works with increasing women´s participation in the political life in Iraq.

We are sitting in a hotel lobby in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, talking about life and the fact that the US is now withdrawing its troops. Liza Hido is Christian and lives in Baghdad, but she often travels here to meet other women´s rights organizations. But also to get a breathing space from the violence and the limited freedom that prevails in the capital. During Saddam Hussein´s years in power she also travelled here, but then as an activist in the Assyrian Patriotic Party, working under the radar of the regime. Many people that we talk to are worried about USA leaving the country. What about her?

- I don´t know, says Liza Hido and throws up her hands in a dejected gesture.
- But I do know that the occupation hasn´t led to an increased security. During Saddam you could live a relatively free life as long as you didn´t criticize the regime. Nowadays the violence lashes out blindly and it´s difficult trying to interpret and foresee the different levels of threats.

Increased terror
According to Iraqi Body Count, over 100 000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since 2003 and many more have been injured. Access to electricity and running water is limited, trafficking of people has increased, poverty is spreading and the level of literacy is sinking. The war is estimated to have cost the Americans 800 billion dollars and to have played a part in the country´s economical recession. At the same time the occupation has affected their relations with other countries in the region badly.

According to Ekaterina Stepovana, from the peace research institute Sipri, 7 per cent of the terror attacks in the world, before 2003, took place in Iraq. In 2009 it was 69 per cent. Looking back, it´s difficult to claim that Iraq, USA and the rest of the world have become safer because of the invasion. Perhaps with the exception of the Kurdish regions where Saddam had acts of genocide carried out.

Dress codes for women
After the occupation, conservative, religious groups have gained influence over the Iraqi society. Yanar Mohammad and other women´s rights activists claim that women have payed a high price in the occupation. Religious laws contribute to discrimination within marriages, families and society as a whole.
More women are covering themselves up and from the south, women activists are reporting that even stricter dress codes have been introduced. Codes that are being encouraged by the office of prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is making it known that all female government employees must dress “modestly”.

- I would never be able to wear this in Baghdad, says Liza Hido and looks down at the moderately rounded neckline of her blouse.
- I remember when I started working at the Ministry of Finance in the 80´s, dressed in mini-skirts. Changes can come rapidly. I have given a lot of thought to why these norms are getting adopted so swiftly, but I can´t seem to find any answers.

Women activists notices that the dress codes also are starting to turn up in the Kurdish regions. In Halabja, close to the Iranian border, almost all the women are now covering their hair. Earlier this year imams were issuing fatwas against Kurdish women´s rights activists. But despite the threats they continue their work. Threats are part of their everyday life.

Street of Erbil: Street of Erbil

Attacks on Christians
The same goes for Liza. As both a Christian and an activist her threat level is doubled. The human rights organization Amnesty International has called attention to attacks on Christian minorities in Iraq, and many Christians have fled to Erbil. Last year the church where Liza Hido usually went, was burnt down and the priest, who was a close friend of hers, was decapitated.

- Always thinking about security becomes an ordinary part of your life. I never take the same way to my job and I always have a chauffeur with me, who also is a sort of body guard. My siblings, who live abroad, want me and the rest of our family to leave Baghdad. But I want to stay, she says.

A hardened government
In a recent report the Iraqi government and the prime minister is getting severely criticized by the International Crisis Group. Corruption has been allowed to gain foothold in the society, the courts are being subjected to political pressure, as is civil society. Several organizations have received anonymous threats, activists have been arrested and subjected to police brutality. It´s an image of a prime minister, who’s getting more and more authoritarian and arbitrary.

When the protests of the Arabic spring reached Iraq in February they were brutally beaten down by the government. In spite of this, demonstrators continued gathering every Friday to protest against corruption and malfeasance. One of the persons in the front line, a well known journalist, was killed in the beginning of September. The murder has been solved, but the demonstrators have left the streets.

- Harassments, threats and fear of retaliation has made everyone afraid. The grip on the civil society is being tightened. Earlier this year prime minister Malaki accused activists from civil society for being terrorists. That made Hanaa Edwar, also called the mother of Iraqi civil society, hit the roof. She told him off and then left the meeting, says Liza Hido.

Power balance between muslims and Kurds
Prime minister Maliki, and his Shiiti led government, has a hard time trying to balance power between Shiiti and Sunni muslims and Kurdish parties. Many people are worried that the tensions between the different groups will lead to a full scale civil war and a dividing of the country.

The situation is very unstable. As we are sitting talking we get the news of liquor shops in Zaxó being burnt down by an angry mob. The shops are owned by Christians. It´s the first time an attack like that have taken place in the Kurdish provinces.

Liza´s mobil phone rings. It´s her brother calling from Baghdad. He has talked to their friends and they are all okey.
- What does this mean? Have we lost our last haven?
Her worries are quickly concealed with a smile, but the look in her eyes has changed.

The following days different theories are being put forward, all more or less conspiracy driven, on who were behind the attacks. Islamic groups supported by Iran? The governing Kurdish parties PDK and PUK, wanting to undermine the islamists? And are the attacks a symptom of violence spreading into the Kurdish provinces now that the Americans are leaving?

Considering the current situation I ask why she chooses to stay?

- I love Iraq! This is where I belong. That´s why I´m so afraid of the country getting divided. That would mean that we suddenly would become strangers.

Annika Flensburg