Minister: "Women Should Wear What They Want"

Nouri: Any practical, physical help provided would come through the Ministry of Displacement and Migration. Our own ministry doesn’t have its own budget; it’s basically linked to the Iraqi Cabinet and it can only implement projects when coordinating with other international or local organisations.

So in terms of these women, we can only support them psychologically - we can make sure their voices are heard by international aid organisations.

NIQASH: What about the women that the extremists have kidnapped?

Nouri: Getting these women released is a very difficult thing. That is the same when any crimes like this are committed, anywhere around the world, during times of conflict. Together with any other related parties, our ministry is trying to help in any way that we can.

NIQASH: What about the kidnapped women that have already been released?

Nouri: We have discussed the provision of psychological and health care as well as housing with corresponding international organisations. There’s also a draft resolution before the Iraqi Cabinet about social welfare payments of up to IQD10 million [around US$8,300] per person.

NIQASH: The Kurdish women soldiers who are fighting in the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani have become the focus of the international media attention. As a Kurdish woman yourself, how do you feel about that?

Nouri:  We are so grateful for what they – and any other women who sacrifice their lives for their own countries - are doing.