Women Join Iraqi Police

Iraqi Police
Originally uploaded by Sydney Weasel.

By Petty Officer 2nd Class John J. Pistone, Multi-National Security Transition Command - Iraq

IRBIL, Iraq — Women's rights might not be the first thing one thinks of when someone mentions Iraq, however, some officials in the Kurdish provinces in northern Iraq would like it to be.

According to Irbil Minister of Interior Karim Sinjari, equality is very important for the residents of the Kurdish provinces.

“We are working very hard to be progressive and set the standard for human rights in Iraq,” he said.

According to Sinjari, changing the country's view of women is an important step to separate themselves from the old way of thinking.

Although women throughout Iraq have been given the right to vote and are accepted in the army and police academies, the city of Irbil was the first city to allow women to hold positions of power.

Iraqi Police Lt. Narseed, is one of the first female officers in the city. {click on image for details}