Sunday, October 27, 2019

AP strips women out of the coverage yet again

Protests have been going on in Iraq.  October 22nd, the United Nations released [PDF format warning] "Demonstrations In Iraq."  From that report:

 This special report, prepared by the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), outlines preliminary findings and key human rights concerns regarding the demonstrations that occurred in Iraq from 1 to 9 October 2019. Violence during demonstrations caused at least 157 deaths and 5,494 injured people, including members of the Iraqi Security Forces.

From October 1st through 9th, 157 deaths and 5,494 injured.  Protests resumed last Friday.  IANS reports,  "The Iraqi authorities said on Sunday that the death toll from the new wave of nationwide protests over unemployment, corruption and lack of public services has risen to 74 and more than 3,600 wounded."  That's Friday, Saturday and today.  Finally remembering that they have a job to do, the US State Dept issued the following earlier today:     

Protests in Iraq


Press Statement
Morgan Ortagus, Department Spokesperson
October 27, 2019
The United States is closely monitoring the situation in Iraq and calls on all sides to reject the cycle of violence. We extend our condolences to the families of those killed during the demonstrations this weekend.  We mourn the loss of life and wish those injured a swift and full recovery.
The United States is deeply concerned about the forced closure of media outlets and the pressure to censor reporting about the protests.  Press freedom is inherent to democratic reform.  We support the fundamental right to freedom of expression, constitutionally granted to all media organizations, and the right of journalists to practice their profession in safety.  The U.S. government continues to support the Iraqi government, the Iraqi people, and Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty.

Qassim Abdul-Zahra (AP) quotes 19-year-old Fares Mukhaled stating, "I want change. I want to remove those corrupt people who sleep in the Green Zone and who fired tear gas and rubber bullets at us."

Qassim also maintains: "The rallies have mainly been by young, unemployed men who are demanding jobs and better services. Young women appeared among the crowd in Baghdad for the first time Saturday, some handing out water to the protesters."  That second sentence is incorrect.  Women have taken part in the Baghdad protests from the beginning.  One woman was crowned a hero for her participation and that was two weeks ago.  But let's just deal that protests that started back up on Friday.  Women were there.

We noted this Saturday night:

  RUDAW reports the reality and runs photos:

 Anti-government protests resumed in Baghdad on Friday, with many women also taking to the streets of the Iraqi capital. Photographer Ziyad Matti captured  powerful moments amid the protests that turned violent as the day passed.
Iraqi women have always been part of the protests in Iraq. However,  women in Iraq face many restrictions, including religious,  cultural and tribal obstacles which leave them unable to fully participate in civic life.
Although Iraqi women theoretically share equal civil rights with men under the Iraqi constitution, religious conservatism continues to permeate all areas of public life, in opposition to the socially liberal values found among sections of the urban youth.


There are 13 photos with the RUDAW article -- in addition, the huge photo that is above the report focuses on a young woman in the protests in Baghdad on Friday.

 Oct 26
Anti-government protests resumed in Baghdad on Friday, with many women also taking to the streets of the Iraqi capital. Photographer Ziyad Matti captured powerful moments amid the protests that turned violent as the day passed.
 
 



  1.  Oct 26
    In pictures: Women take to the streets of as Iraq protests resumed late on Thursday. 📷: Ziyad Matti
     
    2 replies48 retweets84 likes
     
     
  2.  Oct 26
    Iraqi women being part on the protests العراقيات جزء من الثورة
     
    33 retweets81 likes
     
     




So we're not supposed to believe RUDAW or their photos?  Is that the way it's supposed to work.

Exactly what the hell do Iraqi women have to do to get attention from the western press?  They have been attacked, they have been and they have been raped.  And the western media has spent the entire Iraq War ignoring this reality.  Yes, AP covered the trials regarding the US soldiers who gang-raped and murdered Abeer and murdered her parents and younger sister.  And that's good that they did that.  But that is not a pass for the lack of coverage of women or for getting the facts wrong.

Friday was October 25th.  AP, note this Tweet from October 19th.


 Oct 19
In Iraq, women were forced to flee hails of gunshots fired to disperse protests in Baghdad, ridiculed by ISF members in the process, at times, ISF members pointed their rifles at them. Iraqis reaping the fruits of democracy shipped in from the US & Britain



Now the photos below may be beyond Baghdad, I don't know.  But they are of women participating and let's all get on the same page that Iraqi women are participating in these protests:

  1.  Oct 25
    Women participation in the demonstrations, 25th oct 2019. We have a voice, We want a home
     
    1 reply2 retweets1 like
     
     
    Show this thread
  2.  Oct 26
    Brave Iraqi women on the front of protests It's a revolution against Iraq's occupation by Iranian regime
     
    3 replies26 retweets33 likes
     
     
    Show this thread


 Oct 26
It’s probably not that important, but people keep talking to me with the assumption that I’m male. I do want to clarify, for the sake of emphasizing the role of Iraqi women in these protests...that I am actually a woman. Peace from the heart of 🇮🇶
11 replies22 retweets144 likes
 
 

 Oct 26
Iraqi women have always been part of the protests in Iraq. However, women in Iraq face many restrictions, including religious, cultural and tribal obstacles which leave them unable to fully participate in civic life.
3 likes
 
 



  1.  Oct 25
    العلم ثم العلم ثم العلم، ثم نحن..
    10 replies60 retweets285 likes
     
     

 Oct 26
's have always been part of the protests in Iraq. However, women in Iraq face many restrictions, including religious, cultural and tribal obstacles which leave them unable to fully participate in civic life. PHOTOS
1 retweet1 like
 
 


  1.  Oct 24
    When a women in this age and in the middle of the night leaving her house and her children's just for raising her voice against the iraqian criminals that mean hey it's time to get out mother F****r
    2 likes
     
     
  2.  Oct 24
    Women of Iraq 🇮🇶
    4 retweets14 likes
     
     


I don't know how many times I've watched this woman's tirade, but it's probably my favourite thing to come out of the protests so far. She's everyone's kholto. Where is the 10,000 word long read profile on her? That's really all I want to read.
/>
2:13
38.2K views
1:16 AM - 21 Oct 2019
9 replies4 retweets100 likes
 
 
    1.  Oct 21
      Wait I just realised this clip doesn't have the right ending! Forgive my terrible recording but most of the stuff I'm seeing is coming from relatives on Facebook.
      1 reply2 retweets16 likes
       
       

  1.  Oct 24
    Women of Iraq 🇮🇶
    1 reply3 retweets17 likes
     
     




Why do women have to constantly reinvent the wheel?

Because our history is repeatedly erased.  Sunday, today, AP tries to erase Iraqi women's participation in the protests and pretend that, until yesterday, women did not participate in the Baghdad protests.  This isn't minor.  Not only is it factually incorrect, it also goes to the lens through which US outlets have repeatedly covered Iraq -- pretending women and girls aren't present.


Let's note this reaction from the Parliament to the protests.




  1.  23 minutes ago
    Four Iraqi parliamentarians resigned on Sunday in anger at the government's perceived failure to respond to mass protests, piling more pressure on embattled Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi.
    1 retweet2 likes
     
     



Isaiah's latest comic goes up after this.  The following sites updated:









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