Baghdad Mom Becomes Prison Guard

Defend America ^ | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Bill Sutherland

[Spruce]

The first training class of 34 graduates pose for a group picture as new corrections guards who graduated after a one-week course held by the Iraqi Public Service Academy on Aug. 14, 2003. The candidates were selected from a pool of 139 applications and will undergo two weeks on-the-job training prior to working at various Baghdad facilities.
Baghdad Mom Becomes Prison Guard
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Bill Sutherland
BAGHDAD, Iraq: Most Iraqi women are hoping for a way to improve life in Baghdad. There is one local woman who found it. Ask 28-year-old Baghdad mother and resident Zahra Hadi about how her life has changed and she'll tell you about her new job. She is the first female to wear the uniform of an Iraqi corrections guard the only female to wear any kind of police uniform. Hadi completed the one-week corrections course at the Iraqi Public Service Academy, Aug. 14, and will undergo two weeks of on the job training, together with 33 other graduates. "Not even Baghdad's police department has a female working with them, so this is a bit of history in the making," said Gary De Land, senior advisor to the Iraqi Corrections Service. The training classes are held by Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority Department of Prisons. The 800th Military Police Brigade instructors provided guidance in the training and curriculum of classes and as assisted in the selection process. The instructors ensure a high standard of training in security, responsibility and modern correctional institute behavior as advertised by CPA. Hadi was a mother and housekeeper living in Baghdad. Her day consisted of housecleaning, taking care of her seven-month-old son and preparing meals for her husband. She used to work part time selling tropical fish and setting flower arrangements for weddings. But when the Department of Prisons ran an ad looking for new prison guards, Hadi knew it was time for her dream of equality to come true. "I've wanted to do this all my life. I always wanted equality with men. I like competing in a man's world," said Hani. "I think I'm just as smart, and I can do most of those things that men can do." And now, she said smiling, "I can work as a corrections guard, and I know I will practice what I learned on how to be a professional and be treated with respect." Hadi finished high school and now wants to study languages at the nearby Baghdad University. Her dream of one day going to a university is closer then before.	(L-R) Master Sgt. Bowen corrections instructor together with Gary De Land senior advisor to the Iraqi Corrections Service, help Zahra Hadi (middle) the first female graduate of Iraqi corrections system adjust her diploma for pictures. "I would love to learn how to work as a translator and learn French or English," Hadi said. Her instructor at the academy is Master Sgt. Don Bowen. "The students learn the code of conduct, human rights, how to respect others and self- protection. I think Hadi is very enthusiastic about her work, and I truly feel that she wants a change for her country," he said. Each candidate receives four uniforms and a salary of 100,000 dinars per month, or roughly 70 U.S. dollars. "The pay for Iraqi workers is a good wage, since most earn half that much per month," Hadi said. Army reserve members who work as civilian correctional guards, bringing with them a wealth of information and experience, teach the core curriculum. The group started training Aug. 8, at the Iraqi Public Service Academy, in Baghdad. "The goal of the Department of Prisons is to hire people of integrity with a good work ethic. I didn't look at her as a female, but rather as a professional corrections officer in the new Iraqi corrections system," Bowen said. The Iraqi Public Service Academy's goal is to hire enough corrections guards to schedule a class for every three weeks. A new class started Aug. 16.

[Spruce]

The good news just keeps rolling in.

[ken5050]

Isn't there a prohibition in the Koran about women frisking men?

[mtbopfuyn]

Isn't there a prohibition in the Koran about women frisking men?

Doubt they'll have her frisking men. It's a great day for the women of Iraq!

[ken5050]

Have you seen any female prisoners in Iraq?

[MEG33]

I loved this story.

[joesnuffy]

Imagine having to play
guess whats under this burkah?
Pack a lunch...

[Chemist_Geek]

graduated after a one-week course

will undergo two weeks on-the-job training

Umm. Oooo-kay, I guess... Sheesh, though, is that enough..?

However, this event is yet another sign that Iraq is on the road to becoming free and a productive, law-abiding member of the society of nations, thanks to America's and the rest of the Coalition's efforts!

[TEXOKIE]

Pinging for a great story about how our troops have accepted and instructed the first ever woman to be a correctional officer in Iraq! Our troops are helping women claim some autonomy at last!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you for the post and the pings. How her life has changed in 5 short months!

Ask 28-year-old Baghdad mother and resident Zahra Hadi about how her life has changed and she'll tell you about her new job.

She is the first female to wear the uniform of an Iraqi corrections guard the only female to wear any kind of police uniform.

10 Steps to Improve the Lives of Iraqi Women

1. The Coalition is working to ensure that women play an important role in all parts of the government.

2. Three Iraqi women who are members of the new Governing Council are fully engaged in promoting the involvement of women in Iraq's future.

3. An esteemed former female Iraqi judge in the Ministry of Justice is undertaking a review of laws, legal practices, and the legal profession in Iraq for ways to increase equality and participation of women.

4. The Ministry of Interior conducted an assessment of the former Iraqi Police Force in early April. This resulted in a requirement to target recruitment of women and their inclusion in training offered at all academies. The program will become a reality August 15 when the recruiting drive begins with women as one of the groups targeted for selection.

5. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has adopted a policy of equal access to services and benefits for all those eligible, and this policy will ultimately expand services as well as quality to larger numbers of Iraqis including women.

6. Iraqi women will have a role in the development of democracy and civil society. A senior administration official from the CPA Democracy and Governance team is conducting outreach activities to involve Iraqi women.

7. The Coalition team has held numerous meetings with Iraqi women from all walks of life to hear their concerns and to listen to their ideas for the future development of democracy in their country. In addition, the CPA has met with various women's groups and with international organizations regarding their ideas and efforts to meet the needs of Iraqi women.

8. The Coalition helped a group of Iraqi women conduct a conference July 9 that included workshops on the constitution and democracy, legal reform, education, health and social affairs, and economic and employment issues. More than 70 women attended, the majority of whom were Iraqi women experts in such fields as law, academia, medicine, and business.

9. Quotas restricting the entry of women into certain university courses have been raised or lifted altogether.

10. Iraqi women's organizations are being created to expand opportunities for women to improve their lives and those of their families.

---

Results in Iraq: 100 Days Toward Security and Freedom

• Introduction
• 10 Ways the Liberation of Iraq Supports the War on Terror
• 10 Signs of Better Security
• 10 Signs of Better Infrastructure and Basic Services
• 10 Signs of Democracy
• 10 Improvements in the Lives of Iraqi Children
• 10 Signs of Economic Renewal
• 10 Examples of International Support for the Renewal of Iraq
• 10 Signs of Cultural Rebirth
• 10 Steps to Improve the Lives of Iraqi Women
• 10 Voices of Liberation

http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/100days/part9.html

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8 Unapologetically Pro-Coalition News Links and Articles

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the ping Ragtime Cowgirl.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for pinging the good news.

There is this type of good news.

Then there is the other good news of more Islamokazis and Islamofascist Thug Leaders being captured or killed on a regular basis.

Each killed or captured Islamokazi/fascist is one less scumbag who can harm America.

As Travis McGee noted, Iraq with the evil Satan troops in it, is like the world largest bug zapper. The vile bugs in the Middle East are racing to Iraq to get Zapped. The more zapped bugs, the better it is for all of us.

[Grampa Dave]

Great tagline!

Your current tax and spend rats and rinos in the Oregon legislature with their latest tax bill have crossed over and off the page.

[SAMWolf]

Plus they just passed that stupid Baseball stadium bill. Just what we need as the State goes broke.

[prairiebreeze]

She is the first female to wear the uniform of an Iraqi corrections guard the only female to wear any kind of police uniform.

No wonder a successful Iraq is such a threat to many surrounding Arab countries. There are Arab males who will fight to the death to prevent or eliminate this sort of thing.

Prairie

[LaDivaLoca]

Quagmire! Quagmire! Quagmire! LOL! Sorry, RC, I just had to get that off my chest. THANK YOU for the ping. *HUGS* for all that you do for our Military.

[blackie]

Bump for the women of Iraq!

[radu]

This may seem like a small step to some folks' minds but to mine, it's a huge step. One step at a time, progress is being made. It's going to take time to turn things around in Iraq and reports like this, along with so many others I've seen here, keep my hope alive that this will work out. :-)

[Soaring Feather]

bump to the top

[facedown]

BTTT

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!