THE FUTURE ROLE OF WOMEN IN IRAQ

More than 80 Iraqi women were scheduled to meet in Baghdad July 9 to discuss their place in society and how they can participate in rebuilding Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority reported.

An Iraqi steering committee organized the event, with the facilitative support of the CPA, according to a CPA press release. Planned activities included discussions on constitutionalism, legal reform, education, and health and social services, the press release said.

"While differing views are likely to be expressed, there is one common aim -- to see Iraqi women play a full role in society," said the press release.

Make no mistake about it...we have a huge stake in this. For if women are expected to play a role then by definition Iraq cannot become an Islamic theocracy.

Which would be good news for the future of Iraq.

Read it all here.

UPDATE:

More on this story can be found here. And it is good.

Fawzia al-Atia, another woman participant, adjusted her glasses, stared down at the reporter from the podium and lectured him just as she would any of her sociology students at Baghdad University.

''We know that Islam is one of the most accommodating religions in the world that defends the rights of women, and we know historically that women have fought alongside men, they traveled, they traded, but now we see that certain segments of society are using the name of Islam as a screen to create discrimination,'' she said sternly.

The men bristled at her response. ..

''We must not mix religion with politics,'' warned Othman. ''We are religious people, we are Muslims, but we must go forward.''

You said it sister.