Latifiya, IRAQ (Reuters)

Women face new misery in one-time insurgent stronghold

Women fight new battle in Iraq's restive corner

In what was once one of Iraq's deadliest areas, women who survived sectarian carnage and insurgency now fight a new battle to feed families whose menfolk have been killed, jailed or left jobless.

Violence has abated in the past 18 months in the infamous "Triangle of Death" hotbed of insurgent activity near Baghdad, but years of daily attacks in rural towns like Latifiya have killed scores of men and left the rest in prison or unemployed

Men who once held well-paid jobs as officers or agents for former dictator Saddam Hussein now rue their fate over tea and water pipes, leaving women clad in all-enveloping abayas to eke out a living for their families by tending to the fields.

"Women run these farms with a sense of grief and oppression," said Layla Ali, 50, who grows vegetables on a farm with the help of her daughter and sons' wives.

"There are no jobs for the men. I have four sons and not one of them has a job. They have nothing—no job and no opportunity to join the military."

With a thick air of despondency hanging over them, former Sunni insurgent strongholds like Latifiya are a stark reminder of the challenges facing Iraq's government as the country slowly emerges from years of sectarian violence and bloodshed.

The Shiite-led government promised an amnesty for Sunni insurgents who turned their backs on al-Qaeda, but remains deeply mistrustful of them. Analysts warn some could return to violence if they cannot find jobs or fear for their safety.

Women have long worked in the fields around Latifiya. While once their efforts were only a small supplement to income brought in by men who enjoyed privileged positions under Saddam, the crops they grow now provide the only source of income.

The men cannot find work because of a perception that virtually all were involved in attacks on U.S. forces and the Shiite-led government in 2005-07, when murders and kidnappings were rife and burned-out vehicles lined the roads.

Latifiya's Mayor Ahmed Saleem estimates about 35 percent of local men were involved in the insurgency. Security officials put the figure at closer to 97 percent.

The town is dominated by Sunni Arabs. Its Shiite population—some of whom also joined militia groups—largely fled to nearby Shiite areas when attacks became common.

Cultural norms mean that few among the town's mostly illiterate menfolk have opted to help their women in the fields.

"There is no way to change our lifestyle. This is our fate," said Um Sajad, 35, whose blistered palms reflect long hours on the farm. Her husband has given up hope of finding a job.