Policewomen in Kurdistan Face Struggle for Acceptance

By Evin Salah


ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Over the past several years hundreds of women in the Kurdistan Region have joined the police force, serving as guards at government buildings, keeping law and order on the streets and directing traffic.

But some of them say that, despite their indispensible services, Kurdish society isn’t quite ready for the idea of female police officers.

Sarween Najmadeen, a 33-year-old police captain, says the reason is that Kurdish society is “tribal,” but that it is changing slowly.

“Some people allow their sisters and wives to serve in the police force, but some others do not accept that,” says Najmadeen, adding that “their situation is better than before and they are more respected now.”

According to the central police department, 812 women are serving in the police force in Kurdistan’s three provinces of Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani.

Some female police officers say they joined the force voluntarily. But at the same time they admit it has affected their social life, especially with regard to marriage.

“When someone asks for my hand I am scared to say that I am a police officer,” says Payman Muhsin.

The 29-year-old, who has been in the force for the last six years, says she has kept her work a secret from some relatives and friends.

“When you say ‘I am in the police,’ people think about you differently,” she tells Rudaw. “I love my job. But so far half of my relatives -- and not even my best friend -- know that I am a police officer, because I know if they know about that they will have negative views about me.”

According to Muhsin, some female police officers find it easier to work indoors, inside government buildings and ministries, to avoid people’s disapproving looks.

“Female police personnel stay inside the ministry or government buildings because they are more respected inside their offices,” she explains. “Also, we prefer to work in plainclothes, because if we wear police uniforms we will face harassment.”

“When I get into a taxi and ask to be taken to my workplace, the taxi drivers ask me if I am a police officer,” Muhsin recounts. “When I say ‘yes,’ they start telling me that being a female police is inappropriate,” she adds. “So, imagine what will happen if I wear a police uniform to work.”

Despite the challenge of facing the public, says Najmadeen, in many situations female police officers are irreplaceable.

“In some situations female police officers should be included in activities outside of police headquarters,” she says. “Therefore, we need to go out with police teams in police uniform, particularly for social problems.”

Muhsin says that many women refuse to be handcuffed by male police officers, who are then obliged to turn to their female colleagues.