Rumsfeld cautions Iraqis on women's rights

[sonicx]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Iraqis would make "a terrible mistake" in adopting any constitution that sharply curbs women's rights in that country, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Wednesday.

"I personally believe that any country that does not include half of their population in a reasonable way is making a terrible mistake in terms of the future of that country and the prospects for that country and the opportunities for that country," Rumsfeld told a Pentagon news briefing.

Rumsfeld was responding to questions about the possibility a constitution being drafted in Baghdad might lean so heavily on Islamic law it could erode equality for women.

"The subject you raise is a matter (that) the U.S. Department of State and the White House are worrying through with the Iraqi people," he said. "Of course I'm aware of it -- it's not something that falls within the Department of Defense responsibility."

The New York Times reported from Baghdad on Wednesday that a working draft of Iraq's new constitution would cede a strong role to Islamic law and could sharply curb women's rights, particularly in personal matters like divorce and family inheritance.

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-07-20T203409Z_01_N20280296_RTRIDST_0_INTERNATIONAL-IRAQ-USA-WOMEN-DC.XML