Iraq's Female Bombers

More than 20 bombings were carried out by women in Iraq this year. (Google photo)

"US troops destroyed my life, killed thousands of Iraqis and have support from many who also are betrayers," she told IslamOnline.net.

"I lost my children and husband and have no reason to be in this world anymore."

Um Mustafa's husband and her two children were killed during a US blitz in the western city of Fallujah in 2004.

Since then, her desire for revenge has never died down.

"Iraqis are traitors for not defending their land. They had to be united and force US troops out from Iraq and instead they are giving support and the government is even asking them to stay."

Um Mustafa met with members of Al-Qaeda in Iraq group to help her carry out attacks against US forces.

"I will give my life to God wherever my leader tells me to do so," she said.

"I attend daily trainings in how to carry weapons, drive, how to wear correctly the suicide belt and the best manners to reach to my target that is decided few moments before our attack.

"Everyday I pray to be the chosen woman to carry the new attack from the 23 that are being trained now in Iraq.

"I just said that wouldn't attack if I see any children around as it would make me stronger and remind me of my mutilated children in Fallujah."

More than 20 bombings were carried out by women this year.

Most of the attacks occurred in the capital Baghdad, Baquba and Kirkuk, according to the police.

Freedom

Some other female bombers have different reasons to carry out attacks.

Shamis Muhammad [not her real name], 19, is training to become a bomber to help free Iraq from the US occupation.

"When I told my parents that I was going to become a suicide bomber, my mother got desperate and tried everything to make me to desist from this idea," she told IOL.

"However, my heart was clean and telling me that I had to defend my religion and country from invaders.

"My father had a long conversation with me when I told him my decision and the only thing he did was take the holy book, put over my head, pray for me to succeed and ask me to be careful.

"He understood me for being a strong religious man."

One of Shamis' friend joined an Iraqi resistance group to fight against the US forces.

"After so many beautiful things she told me I felt that God was calling me to be beside him in the paradise.

"I know I'm young but each human being has to have a reason to be in this world and I have discovered mine that is to fight invaders inside our Muslim land."

Shamis is now training how to use weapons and explosive belts.

"We keep listening lessons in how to use weapons and the right way to use the belt filled with the bombs to attack the invader.

"From these long hours we stay praying at least forty percent of them as we have to be really close to God before holding our destiny.

"My day is coming and I have been told that I should have my special day soon. I had to leave my family three months ago to keep in a special place to be trained."

Exploitation

Iraqi security officials blame Al-Qaeda for many of the bombings involving women.

They also accuse the group of recruiting and even kidnapping mentally-disabled women to be used as bombers.

"Women usually pass unexamined at security checkpoints, as they are underestimated as threats but this idea has to be changed," said Col. Ali Jaffar, senior official at Ministry of Defence.

"Their traditional clothes, the abayas, can easily hide a vest packed with explosives."

Doctor Fareed Abdel-Rahman, psychiatrist,  believes that Al-Qaeda is exploiting Iraqi women who lost relatives in US attacks.

"They use their most tenebrous and painful memories to revert it into hate and revenge," he said.

"Using religious words that most of the times are changed by them, they make these women think that the only way to be beside their loved ones is becoming a suicide bomber.

"They are brain washed in such way that even if you tell her that her name is another, they would believe."

Rahman has treated many women who lost relatives to US attacks before they become bombers.

"It wasn't easy but I could revert some of her imagination into good things and hope to live in peace rather than carrying a suicide that would end with her life and other dozens of innocent civilians.

"It was a new brain washing but for a good cause."

Some Iraqi resistance groups reject using women to carry out attacks.

"Al-Qaeda has nothing to do with the true resistance. They are destroying the aim of the true fighters in Iraq," a leader of the Islamic Army said.

"Women who accept join them are going against God's laws and leaving their children orphans has no forgiveness in front of God's eye."