Does Iraq have an anciet history of cruelty to women?

Question

*** it-1 p. 202 Assyria ***
. Certain laws dating from one period of Assyrian history, however, illustrate again the harshness so frequently characterizing the nation. Mutilation is provided as punishment for certain crimes. Thus, a slave girl was not allowed to go veiled in public, and for violating such ordinance her ears were to be cut off. The lack of legal protection available for a married woman is evidenced by one law stating: “Leaving aside the penalties relating to a married woman which are inscribed on the tablet, a man may flog his wife, pull out her hair, split and injure her ears. There is no legal guilt (involved) in it.”—Everyday Life in Babylonia and Assyria, by H. W. F. Saggs, 1965, p. 152.

Answer 1

You're kidding, right? Iraq has an ancient history of cruelty to women and has a very current history (READ: Right now today) of cruelty to women. They practice female mutiliation in Iraq, which is the process of having a pre-teen girl's clitoris cut off, and not always under the most sterile standards and not always with local or general anesthesia -- the rationale is that a woman will be more loyal to her husband if she doesn't enjoy sex. Also, if a woman is raped in Iraq SHE is the one who is punished for it (there are a couple of exceptions to that now that the new Iraqi government is in place, but for the most part a woman who is raped is found to be at fault -- she must have somehow "seduced" her rapist -- and is whipped or beaten). Finally, all a woman has to do is talk back to her husband or father ONE TIME and she can be put to death by stoning. This isn't just Iraq either -- the religion of Islam permits this treatment of women. And THIS is supposed to be the religion of peace?

Answer 2

I can't believe how ignorantly sexist "Robinson0.." is being. He states "Women have always been cherished..." in one sentence, and then goes on to explain how, yes, women in some cultures were and are still beaten...oh, but only if they get out of line, and that's understandable, right? THAT'S being "cherished?" Oh, to be "cherished" so...every girl's dream, no? Yeah, no thanks, I'll take equality any day. And to say that a husband raping his wife has never happened...silly, naive little boy. Even if it only ever happened once, EVER, there needs to be leagal recourse, and there wasn't any prior to 1976.
As for the ancient history of Iraq...I think this demonstrates that the oppression of women is cultural, and not religious. Meaning Islam itself does not oppress women, it's how the culture interprets it's religious doctrines. Oppression existed way before Islam existed, it has just found a new expression. And the differences between earlier levels of freedom for women in Mesopotamia, and the Assyrian culture, shows the deleterious effects of a patriarchal society. Mesopotamian culture, prior to it's conquering at the hands of the Assyrians, was much more egalitarian. The Assyrians, however, had a much more stratified social structure, and afforded women very few rights or freedoms. Their society was a much more patriarchal in nature, and the effects of this are clearly evident in the diminished role of women following their arrival.

Answer 3

The previous answer pertaining to marital rape is correct. A man could not be charged with raping his wife, he could be convicted of beating her, but the lack of any other witnesses meant conviction was difficult. Modern forensic techniques combined with more realistic laws have combined to allow prosecution for beatings that would previously been dismissed as "domestic disputes".
The other answer saying that Islam allows beating of wives only if they are unruly and immoral is ridiculous when considered that the basis of judgment is given to the perpetrator as to whether his wife or daughter has been unruly and immoral. Unruly could mean argumentative, immoral could mean displaying an ankle accidentally. We are not talking about the disciplinary light smacking of a naughty child here - (even this is considered assault in some countries).

The point is that there should be no reason for a man to beat his wife, short of self defense.
She is an adult, and should be afforded the respect as an equal.

Answer 4

In general, women's rights in Mesopotamia were not equal to those of men. But in early periods women were free to go out to the marketplaces, buy and sell, attend to legal matters for their absent men, own their own property, borrow and lend, and engage in business for themselves. High status women, such as priestesses and members of royal families, might learn to read and write and be given considerable administrative authority. Numerous powerful goddesses were worshiped; in some city states they were the primary deities.

Women's position varied between city-states and changed over time. There was an enormous gap between the rights of high and low status women (almost half the population in the late Babylonian period were slaves), and female power and freedom sharply diminished during the Assyrian era. The first evidence of laws requiring the public veiling of elite women come from this period.

So for some reason they decided to oppress women in the Assyrian era, whereas before they held many more rights. I wonder why they would do such a thing!!!!!!!

Could it happen again?????

Answer 5

Are you kidding me? Ancient Assyria was known for promoting women's rights. Women were able to get divorced, and also able to own their own land/business. Ever heard of Queen Semiramis of Assyria? She took the throne after her husband died, she had complete control of the military and state. She fought with her soldiers, commanding them to fight all the way to duel in India.

Just to let you know Assyria has no connection with Islam, Assyrians today are the descendants of ancient Assyria and were the first group of people to accept Christianity [we also speak the language Jesus spoke--Aramaic]. Assyrians aren't Arab, we are the indigenous people of Iraq.

Answer 6

While Islam in general has very harsh religious laws regarding women, the irony is that under Saddam Hussein, those religious laws were NOT followed and no such abuse of women was considered legal. His government, while certainly cruel and fascistic, was secular. IE, non-religious.

Answer 7

"heck, not too far in the past in the USA a man could beat & rape his wife. in 1976 the first law was passed against marital rape. i don't know much about ancient iraq"

Excuse me? Corrupted by feminism much?

Since when has any man beat and raped his wife with others thinking it was alright? In case you weren't aware, women have ALWAYS been cherished in society; they are the child bearers biologically, and they have female choice. Men have to please and court women for them to bear their children; this passes over into society, too. But the feminist garbage is a tired and old series of ignorance, so I'll answer the question instead.

If by ancient you mean -B.C., probably not; Islam didn't come around until ~614 A.D. It is true that men can beat their wives in Islam, but ONLY if they are unruly and immoral. They can't just beat wives or women indiscriminately, and each sex has rules they have to follow.

Answer 8

heck, not too far in the past in the USA a man could beat & rape his wife. in 1976 the first law was passed against marital rape. i don't know much about ancient iraq