The Arab Council Hosts a Panel of Iraqi Women Activists

As women lead a wave of people-driven change in Iran, the Arab Council for Regional Integration convened a panel of female activists in neighboring Iraq to discuss their plans. Women made meaningful advances in Iraq over the twentieth century, supported by three generations of feminist intellectuals and activists. Recent years have seen reversals as pro-Iranian militias sought to impose the restrictive ideology of their backers in Tehran. But during the 2018-2019 wave of youth protest demonstrations, women emerged as leaders and organizers, blending the cause of women’s empowerment with the range of social and economic aspirations Iraqis share.

The panel, led by Arab Council Executive Committee member Talal Al-Hariri, brought together six distinguished Iraqi women from across the country: journalist Hiba Nazzar, activist Shams al-Basri, engineering professor Shima Bahzad, politician Ola al-Tamimi, and Yezidi rights activist Hadiya Hussein.