Ironically, the forces leading this assault on women had little or no power under Saddam Hussein. But, following the US-led invasion in 2003, southern Iraq was opened to forces known as Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) – militant gangs and individuals committed to archaic Islamic rule and suppression of women’s rights.
具有讽刺意味的是，引导对妇女进行攻击的这些势力在萨达姆侯塞因掌权的时候根本就毫无实力。但是随着2003年美国主导的入侵，伊拉克南部一个叫做弘扬美德防止罪行的组织横行霸道。这一组织都是一些武装匪徒和坚持过时废弃的伊斯兰教规并且压制妇女权利的人组成。