Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BAGHDAD2445
2006-07-10 18:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

MOI OFFICIAL SAYS WOMEN CANNOT OBTAIN PASSPORTS

Tags:  PREF PINS PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4491
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2445 1911805
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 101805Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5640
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RHEHWSR/WHITE HOUSE SITUATION ROOM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002445 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREF PINS PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ

SUBJECT: MOI OFFICIAL SAYS WOMEN CANNOT OBTAIN PASSPORTS
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM MALE RELATIVES

REF: 05 BAGDAD 00174

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002445

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREF PINS PHUM PNAT KDEM IZ

SUBJECT: MOI OFFICIAL SAYS WOMEN CANNOT OBTAIN PASSPORTS
WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM MALE RELATIVES

REF: 05 BAGDAD 00174

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARGARET SCOBEY, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
AND (D).


1. (C) Summary. MOI Director of Nationality and Travel
Yasseen al-Yassiri told PolOffs July 26 that Iraqi women were
once again required to have their husbands' permission (or
that of another male relative) in order to obtain a passport.
This requirement, which was in effect during Saddam
Hussein's regime, was reportedly overturned in 2004 at the
instigation of then Minister of State for Women's Affairs
Nermeen Othman (ref). Yassiri insisted, however, that the
rule had never been abrogated. End Summary


2. (C) At a July 26 meeting with MOI Director of Nationality
and Travel al-Yassiri, PolOffs asked about reports that Iraqi
women were again required to obtain their husbands' (or other
male relatives') permission in order to obtain a passport.
Al-Yassiri replied that this was indeed the case and that
women were "comfortable with the process." He was unable,
however, to produce a copy of any rule to this effect.
PolOffs noted that this process appeared at odds with the
Constitution's provisions against gender discrimination and
for freedom of travel (note: Articles 14 and 44).


3. (C) PolOff subsequently raised the issue with Minister of
Human Rights Wijdan Mikhail Salim and Minister of State for
Women's Affairs Faten Abd al-Rahman. Both ministers expressed
reluctance to approach the Minister of Interior on the issue.



4. (C) Former Minister of State for Women's Affairs Nermin
Othman (currently Environment Minister) insisted to PolOff
that the regulation cited by Yassiri had been overturned
during the Jafari Government (reftel). Director of the
Research Department for the Council of Representatives,
Saifaldin Abdurrahman, told PolOff July 5 that his staff had
conducted a comprehensive check of the Official Gazette and
could find no indication of a restriction on a woman's right
to independently apply for a passport. He suggested that
Yassiri's statement might point to the existence of an
internal MoI regulation that could be changed by the Minister.


5. (C) Comment: If Yassiri is correct, it would reflect a
step back for women's rights in Iraq. Post will continue to
engage the MOI on this issue. We will also seek to learn how
a restriction on women's rights to apply for passports could
have been reintroduced without a transparent legislative or
rule-making process. Although it is not clear what role
Yassiri may have had in resurrecting the "requirement", it is
clear from his comments where he stands on the issue. Even
if we are successful in encouraging MOI to formally rescind
these procedures, we may continue to see resistance from him
and others in the Iraqi bureaucracy.
SATTERFIELD