Women living under Islamic State’s control in Iraq and Syria face harsh restrictions on movement and dress, which are rigorously enforced by religious police and are leading to resentment and despair among moderate Muslims.
Residents of Mosul and Raqqa have told the media in interviews conducted by phone and Skype that women are forced to be accompanied by a male guardian, known as a mahram, at all times, and are compelled to wear double-layered veils, loose abayas and gloves.
Their testimonies follow the publication this month of an Isis “manifesto” to clarify the “realities of life and the hallowed existence of women in the Islamic State”. It said that girls could be married from the age of nine, and that women should only leave the house in exceptional circumstances and should remain “hidden and veiled”.
A resident of Raqqa who has been detained several times by Isis religious police, known as Hisbah, for violating Isis rules, said: “It is prohibited for a woman in Raqqa to move anywhere outside without a mahram, a male guardian. It is a big problem as I do not have any, we are only five sisters.”
Male guardians are subject to punishment if women do not comply with the prescribed dress code. In Mosul, Isis published a charter within weeks of taking control of the city, restricting women’s movements and imposing dress requirements. Women were instructed to wear a Saudi-style black veil of two layers to conceal their eyes and a loose robe designed by Isis after it said some abayas revealed body outlines.
Many women initially objected to the Isis order but complied when they realised they could be beaten, humiliated and fined, and their husbands might also be punished. Men are now forcing their wives and daughters to stay at home to avoid confrontations with police, which issues orders via the internet or by posting written statements at shops warning against violations of Islamic rules in the city.
They force women of all ages to wear a veil, even though the majority of women wear a hijab. The Hisbah would hit a woman on her head with a stick if she was not wearing a veil.
Some female doctors refused to wear veils and went on strike by staying at home. Hisbah took ambulances and went to their houses and brought them by force to the hospital.
In Mosul, single women are not allowed to be the last passenger on a bus, alone with the driver. Women are forced to get off buses before their destination if there are no other passengers present. Bassma Adel, 35, who works in a bank, had to get off a bus to avoid being alone with the driver even though she was not near her home.
Hisbah patrols tour Isis-controlled cities to ensure that women and men are behaving in accordance with Islamic rules. Children are not exempt from strict dress codes. — Mona Mahmood (Reuters)