“Freedom of Expression” campaign: a women’s cry to reform laws in Iraq

RAJAA HAMID RASHID

IRAQ_Amid the shrinking space for freedoms and escalating restricions on freedom of opinion and expression in Iraq, the “Freedom of Ecpression” campaign was launched at the initiative of the Protest Committee, with the participation of activists and human rights defenders, to demand an end to the prosecution of opinion holders, a review of legislation restricting freedoms, and the provision of a safe environment guaranteeing the right to expression and protest, at a time when worm face doubled forms of restriction and defamation.

Civil activist Intisar Al-Mayali, accompanied by several women defenders and activists in the field of human rights, participated in the “Freedom of Expression” campaign. She stressed the importance of solidarity with free voices that reject silenc, affirming the need to create a safe environment that guarantees citizens their right to expression and protest without fear of prosecution, threats, or defamation.

She added: "From the midst of suffering and prosecutions, the campaign was launched as an inevitable necessity imposed by the bitter reality. We have reached a stage where spaces to breathe are unprecedentedly narrowing, and the muzzling of mouths and attempts to erase societal awareness have become a danger threatening the fabric of our society. We launched this campaign because we believe that silence is no longer a safe option for anyone, and that the free word is the only remaining lung for the dignity of this society and its reform."

Objectives of the campaign

Regarding the campaign's objectives, Intisar Al-Mayali explained that the participants are moving along two parallel tracks. The first, in the short term, is to demand the immediate cessation of all forms of prosecution, the dropping of what she described as unjust charges against opinion holders, in addition to providing real and urgent protection for women and men activists.

As for the long term, she indicated that the campaign seeks to enhance awareness and bring about legislative reforms. She said: "We do not seek to change the temporary behavior of the authority toward protest only, but we demand the dismantling of the repressive legal system and the amendment of texts that criminalize the word. We want to transform the right to protest and expression from a favor into a rooted culture and natural behavior protected by law and respected by society."

Regarding women's role in the campaign, she explained that the women participating in this campaign face multiple and doubled forms of restriction, not limited to political and security aspects, but extending to social and family aspects.

She added: "The restriction we face is not only political or security-related, as is the case with our male colleagues, but it is doubled and compound. A man is fought because of his political position, while an activist woman is fought in her honor, her social entity, and her family. We face systematic electronic defamation campaigns and moral assassination that tries to exploit customs and traditions as additional tools of repression and breaking the will. They do not only fear our opinions, but they fear women's courage when she leads change and breaks out of the frameworks of guardianship."

Success of the campaign

She pointed out that the measure of the campaign's success will not be the number of statements or protest stands, but the extent of its ability to break the barrier of fear and encourage hesitant voices to express their positions and join the demands for freedom of opinion and expression.

Intisar Al-Mayali directed her message to women and girls who are hesitant because of fear of society's view or the reactions of the authorities, saying: "Fear builds walls, but our solidarity is the awareness that demolishes them. The society you fear confronting today because of its repression is the same one that will bow in respect for your strength tomorrow when you make the difference. Your silence will not guarantee your safety, but your voice today is the guarantee for the freedom and dignity of future generations. Be a partner in making this history, and do not wait behind the curtain."

She added: "From the midst of suffering and prosecutions, the campaign was launched as an inevitable necessity imposed by the bitter reality. We have reached a stage where spaces to breathe are unprecedentedly narrowing, and the muzzling of mouths and attempts to erase societal awareness have become a danger threatening the fabric of our society. We launched this campaign because we believe that silence is no longer a safe option for anyone, and that the free word is the only remaining lung for the dignity of this society and its reform."

Objectives of the campaign

Regarding the campaign's objectives, Intisar Al-Mayali explained that the participants are moving along two parallel tracks. The first, in the short term, is to demand the immediate cessation of all forms of prosecution, the dropping of what she described as unjust charges against opinion holders, in addition to providing real and urgent protection for women and men activists.

As for the long term, she indicated that the campaign seeks to enhance awareness and bring about legislative reforms. She said: "We do not seek to change the temporary behavior of the authority toward protest only, but we demand the dismantling of the repressive legal system and the amendment of texts that criminalize the word. We want to transform the right to protest and expression from a favor into a rooted culture and natural behavior protected by law and respected by society."

Regarding women's role in the campaign, she explained that the women participating in this campaign face multiple and doubled forms of restriction, not limited to political and security aspects, but extending to social and family aspects.

She added: "The restriction we face is not only political or security-related, as is the case with our male colleagues, but it is doubled and compound. A man is fought because of his political position, while an activist woman is fought in her honor, her social entity, and her family. We face systematic electronic defamation campaigns and moral assassination that tries to exploit customs and traditions as additional tools of repression and breaking the will. They do not only fear our opinions, but they fear women's courage when she leads change and breaks out of the frameworks of guardianship."

Success of the campaign

She pointed out that the measure of the campaign's success will not be the number of statements or protest stands, but the extent of its ability to break the barrier of fear and encourage hesitant voices to express their positions and join the demands for freedom of opinion and expression.

Intisar Al-Mayali directed her message to women and girls who are hesitant because of fear of society's view or the reactions of the authorities, saying: "Fear builds walls, but our solidarity is the awareness that demolishes them. The society you fear confronting today because of its repression is the same one that will bow in respect for your strength tomorrow when you make the difference. Your silence will not guarantee your safety, but your voice today is the guarantee for the freedom and dignity of future generations. Be a partner in making this history, and do not wait behind the curtain."