On July 18, the House approved, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 784) commending the establishment of Iraq’s first radio station for women, Radio Al Mahaba. The House International Relations Committee approved the resolution on May 25 (see The Source, 5/26/06).
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) applauded the women of Radio Al Mahaba, saying, “All of us who have spent time in the Middle East know of the courage that it takes for women to take to the airwaves and provide education and information for women.” She stated, “This radio station, which operates within the aura of…freedom of speech and freedom of the press, is a wonderful example to Iraqi women and Iraqi people nationwide of the benefits of freedom. It plays an important role in paving the way for women to have more of a fundamental impact on Iraqi society.”
Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), the sponsor of the resolution, explained that Radio Al Mahaba was a revolutionary concept in the Middle East where “women who had been oppressed for years were finally able to hear their side of the story.” She said, “The radio station can be the place for women in Iraq and throughout the Middle East to learn about the issues that will affect their lives. The right to educate one’s self and to be heard are cornerstones of our own democracy, and these characteristics should be carried over into the new Iraq.”
