Women’s Rights: Iran’s Bitter Lessons for Iraq

This article, co-authored by Swanee Hunt and Isobel Coleman, was originally published by International Herald Tribune.

Before the recent elections, leading Iraqi politicians did their best to assuage concerns of their more secular compatriots by promising moderation and inclusion. But election rhetoric is not reality. An important test will be how these leaders address women’s rights in the face of pressure from religious extremists.

While political leaders may profess moderation on many issues, if they do not adhere to basic principles of human rights – including the equal rights of women – their moderation is an illusion. We need look no further than across the border to Iran to see how compromising women’s rights compromises democracy and freedom.

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