Sabihah Al-Sheikh Daoud

Baghdad pays tribute to pioneer of Iraq’s feminist movement

2024-08-04 | 13:31

BAGHDAD — The Al-Mada Foundation for Culture and Arts hosted a session on Al-Mutanabbi Street in Baghdad on Saturday to honor Sabihah Al-Sheikh Daoud, a trailblazer in Iraq’s feminist movement. Daoud played a key role in the 1950s civil rights movement that led to the enactment of the 1959 Personal Status Law.

The session addressed proposed amendments to the law, which are supported by some political factions in parliament but opposed by civil groups. The proposed changes, backed by Shia factions, would legalize non-court marriages, base marriages on the husband’s sect, deny women inheritance rights, and allow child marriage for girls as young as nine under Shia Jaafari jurisprudence.

Sabihah Ahmed Daoud, born in Baghdad in 1912, was a pioneer in Iraq’s legal and feminist circles. In 1936, she entered the College of Law and became the first Iraqi woman to graduate in 1940. She published “The First Step to Modern Feminist Awakening” in 1958, sharing her experiences in the feminist movement.

Daoud’s career included brief legal practice, roles as an inspector in the Ministry of Education, and a judge in Baghdad’s courts in 1956. In 1958, she joined the Juvenile Court, a position she held until retirement. She passed away in 1975.

Rafat Abdul Razzaq, the session moderator, emphasized Daoud’s significant impact on the feminist movement in Iraq, stating she deserves constant recognition. “Despite Iraqi women’s efforts over decades, attempts to diminish their societal role continue,” Abdul Razzaq remarked.

Sabihah, raised in a religious family in Baghdad, was known for her progressive views. Her father, Sheikh Ahmed, held the post of Minister of Endowments in the 1920s and was considered open-minded.

Lahai Abdul Hussein, a sociology professor, criticized the proposed law amendments, highlighting their focus on marriage-related issues, especially early marriage. “Marriage is a significant responsibility and a major transition,” Abdul Hussein said, questioning the need for the new law.

Feminist activist Shamiran Mirokhel lauded Daoud’s contributions to women’s liberation and empowerment, noting that many feminist achievements, including the 1959 Iraqi Personal Status Law, occurred during Daoud’s active years.