I didn’t realize then that taking part in the protests would instil a sense of responsibility and citizenship and a love for our country in them, feelings that should be in the hearts of all Iraqis. But later on, I realized I was wrong and that, as a mother, I had denied my daughters the honour of doing this patriotic duty.
I didn’t think their presence would make a big difference. To be completely honest, at the beginning, I was not sure that the participation of someone like my 17-year-old daughters in the protests would have any big impact. They were not shy about shouting for what they wanted. I saw scenes I had never seen before: Teenage girls lining up at the front of the protest marches, carrying bold banners and demanding their rights. The participation of this group of youthful and feminist women painted a beautiful picture of Iraqi womanhood, as the sisters, mothers, daughters and wives supported the legitimate demands of their brothers, husbands and fathers. It is hard for me to describe the joy I felt recently, when I saw that large crowd of Iraqi women, from many different age groups, standing together at the anti-government protests.
