Female officers at risk in Iraq

KIRKUK, Iraq, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Female police in Iraq encounter social stigma, inadequate pay and increased danger on the job, says a survey of officers in the northern city of Kirkuk.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have recruited female officers in an effort to thwart the increased use of women as suicide bombers as Muslim societies have strict social restrictions regarding the permissible level of interaction between men and women.

But would-be suicide bombers are just one of the threats policewomen face, says a report by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Men adhering to fundamental interpretations of Islam frown upon women serving a role considered tailored for males. For their part, women are often faced with serving as the primary breadwinner, bringing social stigma to the forefront.

Kirkuk began recruiting women to its police force after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003, and many women see it as a viable option because they lack the educational requirements for other professions.

"Some of them genuinely believe in helping restore security and stability," said Kirkuk's police chief, Brig. Gen. Torhan Abdul-Rahman. "Others are doing it for the income, after losing hope of finding civilian jobs."

Male police officers earn around 700,000 dinars, or about $600, per month. Their female counterparts earn around $500 per month, and most are not allowed to carry weapons.