Good News from Iraq: 4 Jun 2007

From MNF-I, First women graduate from Kirkuk police academy.

KIRKUK — The first women to train at Kirkuk Police Academy were among the 980 police officers and non-commissioned officers (NCOs) to graduate from the academy, May 27.

Nisreen Hama Amin and Mirvat Amin, no relation, have joined their male counterparts in donning the blue uniform of the Iraqi police force to answer what they see as the patriotic call to duty.

“I want to help the people and do something good for my country,” Nisreen said. “I saw
female police officers in Irbil and other places, and decided that this was the
way to do it.” . . .

“Due to their beliefs, the men are reluctant to fully search women detainees,” explained [Staff Sgt. Amaury] Garcia, [an advisor with the Police Transition Team from Forward Operating Base Warrior], who works closely with the academy’s leadership. “That’s where female police officers step in. After recent bombings by women suicide bombers, the Iraqi police realize the importance of having female officers on the force. . . .