Women dread going out in both al-Sinaa'a and al-Karada areas for fear of being kidnapped

July 04th, 2006

Women dread going out in both al-Sinaa'a and al-Karada areas for fear of being kidnapped

Baghdad-Iraqi News Agency
Special Report

Many ladies who are employed at trading companies and also those who live in the areas of al-Sinaa'a and al-Karada expressed their fear of going out and moving freely in both areas because of the kidnapping trend and the criminal gangs which are committing burglaries on cars and commerce offices every now and then.

Mrs. Amal Omar al-Jabouri, age 24, who works in a trading company, mentioned that she's not able to go to her work at al-Sinaa'a area following the kidnapping of one of her colleagues two weeks ago as she was leaving work to go home. The gangs take advantage of the noon hour as the employees are leaving in order to kidnap them and extort money. In this case the family had to pay $30.000 U.S. dollars in order for their daughter to be released. Following the incident the woman left Iraq to Jordan.

On the other hand, Mrs. Reem Botrous Hanna, age35, mentioned that she hasn't left her home at al-Karada district since the Samaraa bombings due to the wave of violence and randomly targeting the civilians by the armed militias and gangs. She also mentioned that her husband is now the sole provider and he does the shopping because he's afraid that his wife and children may be kidnapped. Mrs. Hanna added: "We are living in continuous fear and most women refuse to go out except in necessary situations such as grocery shopping".

Nour Ali Hussein, age 21, who is a student, asserted that she dropped out of school for the current year because of the violent acts which are targeting civilians in Iraq. She also added: "I've been deprived from going out or going to school as if we're living in a cage put under low heat". She also wondered when the current events will end so that she can go back to her life like all other peoples.

Translator's note: Al-Sinaa’a and al-Karada areas are both heavily Assyrian populated areas.

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