Fresh Air, Yanar Mohammed, May 30, 2007 (Nonfiction‪)‬

Hear critic-at-large John Powers and Iraqi activist Yanar Mohammed on this edition of Fresh Air.


First, John Powers reports back from his trip to the Cannes Film Festival.



Then, Yanar Mohammed, the internationally renowned founder of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq. The organization fights to stop atrocities against women and advocates for women's rights. The new constitution in Iraq denies women the civil and social rights of men and is based on the Islamic sharia law system. Mohammed and her organization have set up a network of women's shelters and an "underground railroad" to protect women who have been abused or become targets of "honor killings". During the 1950s through the 1970s, women enjoyed an egalitarian-like society in Iraq. They could wear what they wanted, could go to work or university, and could get married or divorced. [Broadcast Date: May 30, 2007]