InfoAnda - Iraqi women learn to read in new schools

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Organic farming gains ground in China | 23 June 2010
Water cooler at nuke plant in India contaminated | 29 November 2009
Jackie Chan praises kung fu of Will Smith's son | 19 July 2009

Florida Authorities Search For 5-Year-Old Girl Who Disappeared From Bed At Night | 12 February 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Iraqi women learn to read in new schools

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Asia Pacific World Search Search: Iraqi women learn to read in new schools AFP - Monday, April 20 BAGHDAD (AFP) - - About 20 Iraqi women, all dressed in traditional Muslim black abayas, were gathered in Baghdad repeating a sentence from a primary schoolbook. ADVERTISEMENT "They are illiterate but had the courage to come here and learn," Alaa al-Mayali, the project director, explained proudly. "We have a twin goal: to fight illiteracy and terrorism." The educational project, partly financed by the United States, has 20 such centres in Iraq's capital. "They learn to read, write and count," Mayali said. "It's a way to keep them occupied, stop them falling into the terrorists' grip, and improve their everyday life," he said, noting most female suicide bombers are poor and illiterate, making it easier for Al-Qaeda to recruit them. Last year witnessed a sharp rise in the number of suicide attacks committed by women who had concealed explosives around their waist. An unusual feature of the six-month-old programme is that the women are paid four dollars each lesson they attend. "We accept Iraqi women aged between 20 and 45, but older if they want to read the Koran. We can ask the education ministry for authorisation," said Samira Wahid Ibrahim, director of Nitaqain school in Dora, a district in southwest Baghdad. The area was ravaged by violence orchestrated by Shiite militants and Sunni insurgents linked to Al-Qaeda. The women study five days a week, between 3 pm and 5 pm, and the school has space for 100 students, split into five equal classes. In Iraq, 25 percent of the population is illiterate, but the figure is higher among women, reaching 35 percent, according to the UN educational fund UNICEF. Traditional prejudices against women are to blame, as are wars -- against Iran in the 1980s, the Gulf conflict after Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, and latterly the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam in 2003. Three decades of conflict have set back Iraq's once proud reputation as being one of the Middle East's most educated countries. "The women who come to classes did not even attend primary school because their families refused to send them, or because they were married very young," said Samira Ibrahim. "Now, many women marry older. Even their husbands ask them to come. They are very confident and are even asking about courses in English." Nahiman Abbas, 33, arrived with one of her neighbours. "I need money, it's vital for my family's survival. I did not like school when I was small and I stopped going. I regret it now," she said. Iyam Adnan, a woman with a soft voice who nervously twiddled her fingers, was learning to read the Koran. "My son asks me questions and I feel ashamed that I cannot respond," she said. Iyam's parents cut short her education in 1981 when she was young because they did not approve of co-educational schools. "I repeat in a loud voice the verses of the Koran which I hear on television," she said. "When going to the doctor or pharmacy, I have to ask people to make sure I am on the right street ... But I make mistakes when buying products because I cannot read the labels." Dora is quiet now compared to when it was embroiled in insurgency in 2007, but there are still some attacks. "We want to learn and have a normal life, like elsewhere," said Iyam. "We do not want the violence to return. We are tired of it." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article 1 user recommend Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle Post-Olympics, director Zhang Yimou plans new filmAP - 1 hour 16 minutes ago Cannes sobers up for low-frills festivalAFP - 1 hour 19 minutes ago 'Slumdog' star's father denies trying to sell herAFP - 2 hours 27 minutes ago Crowds fill seemingly recession-proof CoachellaAP - 2 hours 48 minutes ago Gritty drama shines at Hong Kong Film AwardsAFP - 2 hours 54 minutes ago Enlarge Photo For the first time in years Iraqi students have a graduation ceremony, marking the end of their studies. They celebrated this milestone with dancing and music and with high hopes of rebuilding their war-torn nation. Duration: 01:54 Most Popular – Entertainment Viewed Police nab Norwegian pair during high-speed sex 'Beginner's luck' may lay trail to Cleopatra tomb Mummies found in ancient Egypt burial chamber 'Dracula bandit' gets 20-yr jail sentence New-look auto sector could emerge from crisis View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Monday, 20 April 2009
Karzai objects to direct U.S. talks with Taliban | International |
Nigeria militants free British hostage | International |
World lags on poverty goals: G8 | International |
Hardliners set to win Turkish Cypriot election | International |
French gang law seen failing to curb youth unrest | International |
Heartthrob Zac Efron tops U.S. box office | Entertainment |
Gay group GLAAD honors best in media | Entertainment |
IAEA chief calls on Iran to reciprocate U.S. moves
Iraqi military investigates gangland-style heists
Olmert needs 'immediate' treatment for cancer
UBS sells Brazilian subsidiary for 2.5 bln dollars
Iraq's doctors trickle home as attacks decline
IAEA urges dialogue for North Korea, Iran | International |
Tattoos from Auschwitz horror reunite lost inmates
Hopes dim for US-Cuba thaw
Gunman holds hostages on plane in Jamaica: report | International |
Obama to target govt spending
Afghanistan to boost police by 15,000: minister
Somali pirates release ship, ransom paid | International |
'Beginner's luck' may lay trail to Cleopatra tomb
Iran president to address U.N. racism summit | International |
Chavez book pick rockets up bestseller lists
Sri Lanka suicide bomb kills 17 as thousands flee | International |
More than words needed from Cuba, Venezuela: Obama
Iran tells U.S. to respect rulings of Iranian courts | International |
Western boycott threatens UN anti-racism meeting
Obama to target wayward finance sector
Pakistan attacks militants after bomb; 20 dead | International |
Indigenous groups hold climate summit in Alaska
Blast in Philippine south wounds 4, damages bridge | International |
CIA waterboarded 9/11 mastermind 183 times
Iran's Ahmadinejad urges 'justice' for US reporter
Al-Qaeda says Obama 'did not change anything'
Sept. 11 planner waterboarded 183 times
Chavez foes tell US Venezuelan democracy at risk
U.S. troops train to advise Afghan forces
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,274
Briton freed by Nigeria militants
Italy to accept migrants, after spat with Malta
French-Spanish op thwarted new ETA attack: Madrid
Dutch, Belgian aid workers kidnapped in Somalia
KRouge chief killed and tortured inmates: witness
Iran grabs spotlight at UN anti-racism meeting
35,000 flee Sri Lanka fighting, many rescued
Institute develops cheap cholera vaccine
Deadly refugee boat blast a tragic gamble: report
Australia wildfire inquiry: warning systems failed
China sovereign wealth fund may invest in Europe
Bitter feuding mars Jane's Addiction reunion | Entertainment |
Malaysia Hindu fights spouse over kids' conversion
SKorea clears chipmakers of cartel charges
Australia: 3 boat people drowned after blast
China Telecom 1Q profit down 27.4 percent
Japan ex-minister urges nuclear weapon debate
Miss North Carolina USA crowned Miss USA 2009
Seoul shares rise after volatile trade; banks up
Yusuf Islam's past, present in harmony on new album | Entertainment |
Doctor charged in patient deaths to stand trial
Actor's union board endorses deal with studios
Korea Hot Stocks
Taiwan dollar slips on econ worries, corporate outlook
SKorea's SK opens online China shopping mall
S.Korean bonds edge up ahead of auctions
Seoul shares firm as techs rise; caution weighs
Post-Olympics, director Zhang Yimou plans new film
NZ services sector picks up in March, still weak
Cannes sobers up for low-frills festival
'Slumdog' star's father denies trying to sell her
Crowds fill seemingly recession-proof Coachella
Gritty drama shines at Hong Kong Film Awards
Iraqi women learn to read in new schools
Miss North Carolina USA crowned Miss USA 2009
Actor's union board endorses deal with studios
Tito still charms three decades after death
Photographer: Madonna wrong about NY horse fall
Netanyahu says hasn't set precondition for talks
Gunman surrenders, ending Jamaica airport standoff | International |
Somali pirates release aid ship: WFP
Russia may cancel military talks with NATO: Ifax | International |
Netanyahu says hasn't set precondition for talks | International |
World Wide Web conference opens in Madrid
EU launches anti-trust probe of airlines
Tajikistan, U.S. Afghan transit deal expected soon | International |
PepsiCo beats profits forecast
Malawi to hear appeal on Madonna's failed adoption
Parents of American jailed in Iran visit daughter
South Korea's prophet of doom blogger acquitted | Technology |
Oracle to buy Sun Micro, enters hardware market | Technology |
Eyeing diners, restaurants take to Twitter | Technology |
Hostage drama ends in hijacker arrest: official
Future cellphone to take on music editing | Technology |
Russia to send more warplanes to Kyrgyzstan
Jamaican police arrest hijacker
US-TECH Summary
Future cellphone to take on music editing
Zenergy to develop 'Smart Grid' device for Con Edison | Technology |
World Wide Web conference opens in Madrid
US marks Columbine, 10 years on
Oracle buys Sun Microsystems for $5.6 bln
Zenergy to develop 'Smart Grid' device for Con Edison
South Korea's "prophet of doom" blogger acquitted
Madonna to try again to adopt Malawian girl | Entertainment |
India police probe Slumdog child star report | Entertainment |
Euphoria, unease at UK web singing sensation Boyle | Entertainment |
China to build 5 nuclear power plants this year
Thai anti-government leader promises more protests
Sri Lanka military helps 35,000 civilians flee
Fund faces $4B shortfall; AIDS deaths could rise
Madonna suffers minor injuries in fall from horse | Entertainment |
Nepal demands army explanation for ignored orders
Thai PM rules out talks with exiled Thaksin
UN: NKorea could restart nuke facilities in months
More planes for Russian base in Kyrgyzstan
China launches new English-language newspaper
Pakistan cuts rates by 100 bps as inflation falls
Pakistan attacks militants after bomb
India's Tech Mahindra, Satyam discuss takeover
China's BYD eyes alternative energy vehicles
Japan's KDDI to release solar-powered cell phone
Prince Charles book laments 'lost ties with nature'
Tech Mahindra deposits $582M for Satyam stake
Madonna to try again to adopt Malawian girl
Pakistan targets 70 bln rupees in T-bill auction
India police probe "Slumdog" child star report
China Mobile quarterly profit up 5.2 percent
'Idol' documentary to air on Gospel Music Channel
Shanghai showdown for Chinese, global automakers
Beyonce talks tour, movie, Etta James and Twitter
'Public Enemies' author rushes to Dillinger's side
China shares gain, premier says stimulus working
Jackie Chan's comments spark protest in Taiwan
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01