Sexual harassment in Iraq's sports and academia exposes systemic failures, sparks demand for reform
Shafaq News/ Sexual harassment in Iraq's sports and educationalinstitutions is reaching alarming levels, as new cases of abuse andexploitation continue to surface, exposing systemic failures to protect womenand girls from predatory behavior. The latest revelations, involving apromising athlete and a university dean, have ignited public outrage andhighlighted the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards and cultural change.
These allegations come as no surprise to human rights organizations inIraq. The Iraqi Human Rights Observatory warned in 2022 of a surge in sexualharassment cases in what are supposed to be safe areas, including governmentinstitutions, schools, and workplaces. Victims, both men and women, have reportedincidents of harassment but have been reluctant to come forward due to fear ofsocial stigma and reprisals.
Harassment In Sports
Hiba Mohammed, 22, a promising track and field athlete, revealed thatshe had been sexually harassed and pressured to compromise her body in exchangefor the opportunity to compete internationally. Her story highlights thechallenges faced by women in Iraq, particularly those seeking to pursue careersin sports.
"I always dreamed of becoming one of Iraq's champions," Mohammedsaid. "But the harassment and sexual demands crushed my hopes." Sheattributed her struggles to "customs, traditions, societal norms, andfamily rejection," which hindered her progress in the sport.
Despite the obstacles, Hiba Mohammed remains determined to pursue herathletic goals.
Mohammed's case has sparked a wider conversation about the prevalence ofsexual harassment in Iraqi society and the need for greater protection forvictims. "It's a disease," she said, expressing her shock at thelevel of immorality she encountered within the sports community.
A prominent Iraqi sports expert has sounded the alarm about thedeclining participation of women in team sports due to rampant sexualharassment. Ghassan al-Abbadi pointed out that the fear of sexual exploitationis driving women away from team sports like football and basketball, forcingthem to limit their involvement in individual sports.
Al-Abbadi said that the main challenge in addressing this issue is “thedifficulty in proving sexual harassment cases”. “Many women are hesitant tofile formal complaints due to societal stigma and fear of being ostracized. Theconservative nature of Iraqi society and the fear of family dishonor oftenprevent victims from seeking justice,” he added.
To combat this problem, al-Abbadi called for the establishment of“specialized, confidential committees” where victims of sexual harassment canreport incidents without fear of public exposure. “These committees would playa crucial role in gathering evidence and pursuing legal action againstperpetrators.”
“By creating a safe space for victims to come forward, we cansignificantly reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment in sports,” al-Abbadisaid, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and education among womenabout their rights and the importance of reporting harassment.
Harassment in Education Institutions
A recent sex scandal involving a university dean in Basra has broughtthe issue of sexual harassment in Iraq to the forefront of public discourse.Images of the dean engaged in inappropriate acts with a student in his officewere widely circulated on social media, exposing a pattern of abuse of powerand exploitation.
The widespread media coverage of the Basra University scandal hassparked public outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of existinglaws and the development of new legislation to protect women and girls.
Role Of Social Conditioning
A leading Iraqi social researcher has attributed the rampant prevalenceof sexual harassment in the country to deep-rooted societal issues, includingpatriarchal norms and a distorted view of women.
Nada al-Abbadi, a sociologist, pinpointed the problem to "theincreasing repression in our eastern societies and the derogatory view of womenthat men acquire during their upbringing amid a domineering patriarchalsociety." She further emphasized the harmful stereotype that confineswomen to the domestic sphere, reducing them to mere objects of pleasure andprocreation.
Al-Abbadi argued that the strict gender segregation and preference forsons over daughters, particularly prevalent in impoverished and war-tornsocieties like Iraq, have significantly damaged the status of women.
“We need a paradigm shift through education, policy implementation, andstronger legal protections to elevate women's position and challenge harmfulstereotypes.
Hiba Mohammed, the Iraqi athlete who bravely shared her experience ofsexual harassment, exposed the impunity enjoyed by perpetrators. She explainedthat many men feel emboldened to harass women because they believe they can getaway with it, given the societal stigma often attached to victims. Mohammedsaid that silence is imposed on victims who fear being blamed and ostracized.
Awareness
Psychology professor Ahmed al-Dhahabi warned against the severepsychological consequences of sexual harassment, including depression, anxiety,and even suicidal thoughts. He called for comprehensive education programs tochallenge harmful societal norms and promote gender equality.
"Sexual harassment can have devastating effects on victims,"al-Dhahabi said. "We need to create a society where women feel safe andempowered."
Boshra al-Abadi, a women's rights activist, argued that the lack ofstrong legal protections for victims has contributed to the prevalence ofsexual harassment in Iraq. She pointed out that current laws often carrylenient penalties, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
"The existing laws are simply not enough to deterperpetrators," al-Abadi said. "We need harsher punishments and a moreeffective judicial system."
The Iraqi Human Rights Observatory has called on authorities tostrengthen law enforcement and ensure that victims feel safe coming forward.The organization has also urged the government to implement stricter privacyprotections for victims.
To address the issue, the National Security Apparatus has launched acampaign called "We Have Your Back," aimed at encouraging victims toreport incidents of sexual harassment. The campaign promises to protect theprivacy of victims.
Yasra Kareem, the Director General of the Women's Empowerment Departmentat the Iraqi Council of Ministers, told Rudaw TV that her department is workingto establish a comprehensive code of conduct for all government institutions toprevent sexual harassment.
"We are working to ensure that there are clear rules and regulationsin place to prevent such incidents from happening in governmentinstitutions," Kareem said. She also noted that the Iraqi InteriorMinistry has established specialized departments to provide support to womenwho have been victims of sexual harassment.
Iraqi Law
Sexual harassment is defined in Iraq's Labor Law No. 37 of 2015 as"any physical or verbal sexual behavior, or any other sex-based conduct,which affects the dignity of women and men, is undesirable, unreasonable, andinsulting to those who receive it, and leads to the rejection or non-submissionof any person to such behavior, explicitly or implicitly, to make a decisionthat affects their job."
Article 10 of the Iraqi Labor Law prohibits "Sexual harassment inthe workplace and occupation, whether in the job search, vocational training,employment, or working conditions. It also prohibits any other behavior thatcreates an intimidating, hostile, or degrading work environment to thosesubjected to such behavior."
