Security
Iraq: 'Hardship' behind women and child suicide bombers
Baghdad, 23 June (AKI) - Poverty, social deprivation and widespread unemployment are making women and children across Iraq vulnerable for recruitment as suicide bombers, according to a report released on Monday.
As recently as Sunday, a female suicide bomber killed at least 15 people and wounded some 30 others in the central city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, local police were quoted as saying.
Baquba is the capital of the volatile al-Qaeda stronghold of Diyala province.
"There around a million widows and hundreds of thousands of marginalised divorcees. This is made difficult by onerous procedures to receive social welfare, which is inadequate for the large numbers of impoverished women," said the report.
The report was published by Iraq's Rights and Constitutional Freedoms Observatory, which describes itself as an independent research institute.
"Furthermore, the grave economic and social crisis coupled with unemployment has led to the breakdown of traditional family structures, placing upon many women the economic burden of keeping their families," the report said.
Extremists can lure women embittered by the loss of their husbands and children in acts of violence, according to the report.
A lack of female security staff enables women to pass through checkpoints without being searched - another factor contributing to the rise in female suicide bombers, it said.
Female bombers' clothing - typically the black, flowing head-to-toe chadors - also make it easier to conceal a bomb.
Over 14 women carried out suicide attacks in the restive Diyala province in the past six months, according to figures released by the province's municipal council.
"Terrorism is targeting all social groups and using every means at its disposal, including innocent children," the report pointed out.
"Children of 14-16 have been trained in an area of Baghdad by a Saudi nation," it also claimed.
"And US forces have uncovered a video called 'Children of Paradise' showing youngsters aged 11-15 wearing explosives belts and being trained for combat."
There are "over 60" children believed to belong to the organisation, the report stated.
"Besides poverty, threats by armed groups to kill their family members, religious extremism and desire for revenge are all causes," the report said.
The report blamed the Iraqi government for failing to pass measures giving legal and social protection to some five million orphans.
As recently as Sunday, a female suicide bomber killed at least 15 people and wounded some 30 others in the central city of Baquba, north of Baghdad, local police were quoted as saying.
Baquba is the capital of the volatile al-Qaeda stronghold of Diyala province.
"There around a million widows and hundreds of thousands of marginalised divorcees. This is made difficult by onerous procedures to receive social welfare, which is inadequate for the large numbers of impoverished women," said the report.
The report was published by Iraq's Rights and Constitutional Freedoms Observatory, which describes itself as an independent research institute.
"Furthermore, the grave economic and social crisis coupled with unemployment has led to the breakdown of traditional family structures, placing upon many women the economic burden of keeping their families," the report said.
Extremists can lure women embittered by the loss of their husbands and children in acts of violence, according to the report.
A lack of female security staff enables women to pass through checkpoints without being searched - another factor contributing to the rise in female suicide bombers, it said.
Female bombers' clothing - typically the black, flowing head-to-toe chadors - also make it easier to conceal a bomb.
Over 14 women carried out suicide attacks in the restive Diyala province in the past six months, according to figures released by the province's municipal council.
"Terrorism is targeting all social groups and using every means at its disposal, including innocent children," the report pointed out.
"Children of 14-16 have been trained in an area of Baghdad by a Saudi nation," it also claimed.
"And US forces have uncovered a video called 'Children of Paradise' showing youngsters aged 11-15 wearing explosives belts and being trained for combat."
There are "over 60" children believed to belong to the organisation, the report stated.
"Besides poverty, threats by armed groups to kill their family members, religious extremism and desire for revenge are all causes," the report said.
The report blamed the Iraqi government for failing to pass measures giving legal and social protection to some five million orphans.
Bookmark whit:
