Sexual harassment in Iraqi sports and academia exposes systemic flaws and calls for reform

Shafaq News/ Sexual harassment in Iraqi sports and educational institutions is reaching alarming levels as more cases of abuse and exploitation emerge, exposing systemic failures to protect women and girls from predatory behaviour. The latest revelations, involving a promising athlete and a university dean, have sparked public outrage and highlighted the urgent need for stronger legal safeguards and cultural change.

These allegations come as no surprise to human rights groups in Iraq. The Iraqi Human Rights Observatory warned in 2022 of a rise in cases of sexual harassment in what are supposed to be safe spaces, including government institutions, schools and workplaces. Victims, both men and women, have reported incidents of harassment but have been reluctant to come forward for fear of social stigma and reprisals.

Bullying in sports

Hiba Mohammed, 22, a promising athlete, revealed that she was sexually harassed and pressured to compromise her body in exchange for the chance to compete internationally. Her story highlights the challenges faced by women in Iraq, particularly those pursuing a career in sports.

“I always dreamed of becoming one of Iraq’s champions,” Mohammed said. “But the harassment and sexual demands crushed my hopes.” She attributed her struggles to “customs, traditions, societal norms and rejection by her family,” which hindered her progress in the sport.

Despite the obstacles, Hiba Mohammed remains determined to pursue her athletic goals.

Mohammed’s case has sparked a broader conversation about the prevalence of sexual harassment in Iraqi society and the need for better protection for victims. “It’s a disease,” she said, expressing her shock at the level of immorality she encountered within the sporting community.

A leading Iraqi sports expert has raised the alarm over the decline in female participation in team sports due to widespread sexual harassment. Ghassan al-Abbadi pointed out that fear of sexual exploitation is driving women away from team sports such as football and basketball, forcing them to limit their involvement in individual sports.

Al-Abbadi said the biggest challenge in addressing the issue is “the difficulty of proving cases of sexual harassment”. “Many women are reluctant to file formal complaints because of societal stigma and fear of exclusion. The conservative nature of Iraqi society and fear of family dishonor often prevent victims from seeking justice,” he added.

To combat this problem, al-Abbadi called for the creation of “specialized, confidential committees” where victims of sexual harassment can report incidents without fear of public exposure. “These committees would play a crucial role in gathering evidence and pursuing legal action against perpetrators.”

“By creating a safe space for victims to come forward, we can significantly reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment in sport,” said al-Abbadi, who stressed the need for more awareness and education among women about their rights and the importance of reporting harassment.

Bullying in educational institutions

A recent sex scandal involving a dean of a university in Basra has brought the issue of sexual harassment in Iraq to the forefront of public debate. Footage of the dean performing inappropriate acts on a student in his office was widely circulated on social media, exposing a pattern of abuse and exploitation.

Widespread media attention to the scandal at the University of Basra has led to public outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of existing laws and the development of new legislation to protect women and girls.

Role of social conditioning

A leading Iraqi social researcher has attributed the widespread prevalence of sexual harassment in the country to deep-rooted societal problems, including patriarchal norms and a distorted image of women.

Sociologist Nada al-Abbadi pinpointed the problem with “the increasing oppression in our Eastern societies and the derogatory image of women that men are taught during their upbringing in a dominant, patriarchal society.” She further highlighted the harmful stereotype that confines women to the domestic sphere and reduces them to mere objects of lust and reproduction.

Al-Abbadi argued that strict gender segregation and the preference for sons over daughters, particularly prevalent in impoverished and war-torn societies such as Iraq, have significantly damaged the status of women.

“We need a paradigm shift through education, policy implementation and stronger legal protections to empower women and challenge harmful stereotypes.

Hiba Mohammed, the Iraqi athlete who bravely shared her experiences of sexual harassment, exposed the impunity that perpetrators enjoy. She explained that many men feel empowered to intimidate women because they think they can get away with it, given the societal stigma that often attaches to victims. Mohammed said that silence is imposed on victims who fear being blamed and excluded.

Conscience

Psychology professor Ahmed al-Dhahabi warned of the serious psychological consequences of sexual harassment, including depression, anxiety and even suicidal thoughts. He called for comprehensive educational programs to challenge harmful societal norms and promote gender equality.

“Sexual harassment can have devastating effects on victims,” al-Dhahabi said. “We need to create a society where women feel safe and empowered.”

Boshra al-Abadi, a women’s rights activist, argued that the lack of strong legal protections for victims has contributed to the prevalence of sexual harassment in Iraq. She pointed out that current laws often carry lenient sentences, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.

“The existing laws are simply not enough to deter perpetrators,” al-Abadi said. “We need tougher punishments and a more effective justice system.”

The Iraqi Human Rights Observatory has called on authorities to strengthen law enforcement and ensure that victims feel safe coming forward. The organization has also urged the government to implement stronger privacy protections for victims.

To address this problem, the National Security Apparatus has launched a campaign called “We Have Your Back,” which aims to encourage victims to report incidents of sexual harassment. The campaign promises to protect the privacy of victims.

Yasra Kareem, director general of the Iraqi Council of Ministers’ Department for Women’s Empowerment, told Rudaw TV that her department is working on drafting a comprehensive code of conduct for all government institutions to prevent sexual harassment.

“We are working to ensure that there are clear rules and regulations to prevent such incidents from happening in government institutions,” Kareem said. She also noted that the Iraqi Ministry of Interior has set up specialized departments to support women who have been victims of sexual harassment.

Iraqi law

Sexual harassment is defined in Iraqi Labor Law No. 37 of 2015 as “any physical or verbal sexual conduct, or any other sexually related conduct, that violates the dignity of women and men, is unwanted, unreasonable and offensive to those who suffer it, and leads to the rejection or non-submission of a person to such conduct, explicitly or implicitly, in order to make a decision that affects their employment.”

Article 10 of the Iraqi Labor Law prohibits “Sexual harassment in the workplace and in one’s occupation, whether in the course of seeking employment, vocational training, employment or working conditions. It also prohibits any other conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile or humiliating work environment for those exposed to such conduct.”