Hugh and the Iraqi matchmaker.
He writes: "After six years of violence, Iraq has an estimated one million widows, with seven million children without fathers.There is still some conservative religious resistance to widows getting married again. Under Saddam Hussein, Iran-Iraq War widows received a pension, and often free homes. This helped them remain independent. But that safety net has disappeared.
Hanaa Edwar, an Iraqi women's rights activist. She questions the assumption that widows would be better off re-marrying.
Hana Badrani, at the Ethar Foundation in Baghdad. It supports widows and their children - and helps find them new husbands.
Roba, aged 7, listening to her own voice on my sound recorder. Her father - a policemen - had been shot dead three days earlier. When she was told it was time to go home, her delight turned to intense, violent distress. A year later, I gave her a copy of this photo - the delight re-appeared on her face.
A happy Baghdad scene (below). This week I met a widow who told me that sometimes, when their children meet a man they've never even met before, they want him to give them a hug.
Two years ago, I met a woman and her 3-year-old daughter Sara. Her mother told me about her husband - shot dead at random in the street.
After her Mum had finished telling her story, Sara looked up at me and said, "Please stay with us"."
Listen to PM
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Eddie:
Hugh...Thanks, for the excellent reportage and helping out
as a match-maker....
=Dennis Junior=
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One word: Poignant.
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This is such good stuff ...
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......as is Hugh's programme ''Calling Hereford'', on Radio 4 at the moment.
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It was great, wasn't it, Gill? Unfortunately, it was interrupted (for me) halfway through, so I shall have to Listen Again when things quieten down.
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"Under Saddam Hussein, Iran-Iraq War widows received a pension, and often free homes." "But that safety net has disappeared."
What? These facts don't fit the western characterisation we've been given.
Where's that Hugh Sykes - get him in line.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8274993.stm
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As ever, thank you, Hugh.
The impression I get is that these children might want a father figure in their lives.
Maybe the women want a bit of love life. I don't know how easy this is outside marriage; my guess would be not that easy.
But if there are women who don't need to be married again (if they don't want to be) to be able to survive, then that's surely to the good.
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Hello,
I need any contact information for Al Ethar Foundation or Hana Badrani herself, email address or phone number.
The writer of the above article or any reader, I'd be much appreciated if you can help.
[Personal details removed by Moderator]
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Well, that's an interesting one. I hope someone can help you Ali.
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