REFERENCES

1.  “Climate of Fear: Sexual Violence and Abduction of Women and Children in Baghdad”, Human Rights Watch interview with Muna B., age fifteen, Baghdad, June 13, 2003. http://hrw.org/reports/2003/iraq0703/2.htm. 26/03/2007

2.  Human Rights Watch interview with Iraqi police investigator, Baghdad, June 16, 2003.

3.  Human Rights Watch interview with Dalal S.’s mother, Baghdad, June 20, 2003.

4.  Article 427 of the Penal Code states: “If the offender mentioned in this section then lawfully married the victim, any action becomes void and any investigation or other procedure is discontinued and, if a sentence has already been passed in respect of such action, then sentence will be quashed … Legal proceedings will resume or the sentence will be reinstated according to the circumstances if the marriage ends in a divorce brought about by the husband without legal justification, or in a divorce ordered by the court for wrongs committed by the husband, or for his bad behaviour within 3 years following the cessation of proceedings … The public prosecutor, the accused, the victim, or any person who has an interest in the proceedings may, according to the circumstances, make application for the proceedings, investigation, procedures or execution of the sentence to be stopped for their resumption of the reinstatement of the sentence.” [Translation by Human Rights Watch]

5.  Human Rights Watch interview with Lt. Col. Saif Ghaleb, West Baghdad Police Headquarters, June 24, 2003.
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FARAH EL-SHARIF is an editorial intern at Islamica Magazine.