This 30-minute documentary tells the story of Iraqi women's participation in the October (Tishreen) Uprising of 2019, the largest popular protest movement in Iraq's modern history. Women made up nearly 40 percent of the demonstrators and played a vital role in shaping the movement.
Women participated in many different ways. They mobilized people through social media, organized demonstrations, painted murals and revolutionary art in public spaces, delivered speeches, provided first aid to the wounded, prepared and distributed food, raised funds, donated their personal jewellery and savings, and supported the protest movement in countless other ways.
Although women were at the forefront of the uprising, they did not organize around specifically feminist demands such as gender equality, reform of the Personal Status Law, ending violence against women, or recognition of unpaid care work. Instead, they united with the wider movement around a common aspiration: the demand for a homeland that guarantees dignity, freedom, social justice, and a decent life for all Iraqis.
The uprising lasted for almost six months. More than 600 protesters lost their lives, thousands were injured, and the movement ultimately led to the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi. However, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the visibility of women's remarkable contribution gradually faded from public attention.
The story did not end there. In the years that followed, women activists who had challenged the political order faced growing intimidation, harassment, and violence from both state and non-state actors. Their activism was met with systematic attempts to silence and marginalize them.
This documentary preserves the voices, experiences, and memories of the women of Tishreen. Through authentic footage from Baghdad's Tahrir Square and the testimonies of women activists, it documents one of the most inspiring chapters of Iraq's contemporary history.
Join us for the screening and discussion on 6 August, from 17:00 to 19:00, at the World Social Forum in Cotonou, Benin.
We warmly invite women's rights advocates, civil society organizations, social justice activists, and all those interested in democratic movements and feminist struggles to watch the film and participate in an open discussion on the role of women in social movements, the challenges they continue to face, and the importance of international solidarity.