NEWS CENTER - According to the Iraqi Women's Press Summit data, 77 percent of women in the country are exposed to harassment. Law Expert Ali Binyan said that the laws in Iraq paved the way for harassment.

 

A woman who wanted to watch the motorcycle and car exhibition held in Sulaymaniyah in the Federated Kurdistan Region on December 30, 2022, was attacked by dozens of men, bringing violence against women back to the agenda in the country. Upon the growing reaction to what happened, some of the aggressive men in the videos were taken into custody. According to the statements made by the authorities, 19 attacking men have been detained so far. It was also learned that the woman gave a statement in court and complained about the aggressive men.

 

Hibe Neib, Member of the Iraqi Women's Rights Organization, spoke to Rojnews about the mass attack and harassment on the day of the incident.

 

'PSYCHOLOGICAL ATTACK'

 

Stating that the definition of harassment is clear, Neib said: “Harassment is always harassment. It has no other definition. This situation does not change from man to man. Harassment, whether young or child, is harassment. It is a type of moral and psychological attack against women.”

 

HARASSMENT AND RAPE STATISTICS

 

According to the Iraqi Women's Press Summit data, 77 percent of women living in Iraq are exposed to harassment. 90 percent of women demand new laws to prevent harassment and rape. According to the same data, 57 percent of women are exposed to verbal abuse and 20 percent to physical abuse. 5 percent of the respondents were exposed to domestic abuse and 7 percent of them were exposed to harassment through social media.

 

78 percent of women who participated in a survey prepared by the Iraq Women's Press Summit stated that they were harassed at work, but they could not speak up due to economic conditions.

 

IRAQ PENAL CODE 

 

Law Expert Ali Binyan said: “According to unofficial data, 65 percent of harassment takes place in markets, public transportation vehicles and government offices. These areas where harassment is experienced are the areas where customs and laws need to be protected the most; however, the current situation shows us that the laws in Iraq pave the way for harassment. Some laws contain phrases that criminalize and punish sexual harassment in the workplace. Pursuant to Article 111 of the Iraqi Penal Code, the perpetrator of harassment is arrested after many witnesses and evidence, but this period does not exceed one year. This period constitutes one of the lowest penalties in the world. Articles 400 to 404 of the Iraqi Penal Code define harassment and rape as social immorality. Recently, we demanded that a special law be enacted against harassment and rape crimes.”