Riverbend' Blog and Syrian Women Response

Riverbend’s blog and Women in Syria

The author uses the name Riverbend to conceal her identity. In her blog she talked about how women’s freedom diminished as a result of war in Iraq and that women were kept from their jobs and schools. In her blog, Riverbend talked about the dangers many women as well children faced during the war, which was very unpleasant.  For example, most women could not go out due to many bombings and attacks during the war. One had to be cautious and careful about their surroundings as they could be killed if care was not taken while walking on the streets. Also, there were power shortages during the war.

As of today, many women in Syria do not have as much equal rights as men do. Innocent women are constantly raped or face other forms of sexual abuse and violence especially in the streets very often.  In times past, many women turned to Islamic religion out of fear, in response to encroaching Western values and beliefs and also due to unemployment and poverty (http://www.feministpress.org). Although that was in the past, many women still do that today. Furthermore, most people who try to engage in any form of activist for human rights are imprisoned and harassed and this causes most women to suffer in silence regarding injustices done towards them. Moreover, Syrian women activist are the most restricted women in the Arab world according http://www.irinnews.org. This is because women continue to face discrimination in issues relating to marriage and divorce. Having custody over children in the case of divorce is very difficult for most women Syria.  Despite the injustices that are going on in Syria much is not done today to protect women from the injustices and this makes Syrian human rights to be a very poor one.

Overall, Rivebend’s blog and issues in Syria are very similar just that in my opinion Syrian women face much oppression that those in Iraq. I know most women fled from Iraq to better their lives but most of them found similar problems in Syria, which is not right in my opinion. Her blog also connects with that of Syria because sometimes when you flee from one bad area to another to find peace, you end up finding more difficulties and problems.  Although some of the women’s movements is doing its very best to improve on human rights and justice for most Syrian women, the Syrian government in my opinion has done much for most Syrian women which is not fair in my opinion. As a result, most women are still fighting for their rights and freedoms so the world can be a better place for them. 

Resources

Feminist Press. Retrieved November 14, 2013 from http://www.feministpress.org/books/riverbend/baghdad-burning

Syrian Women.  Retrieved November 14, 2013 from http://www.irinnews.org/report/26214/syria-women-s-rights-activists-face-resistance.