Two contrasting statements on the treatment of women during Saddam's reign

"...Women are back. Women, who enjoyed a high social status and levels of education under Saddam, saw terrible setbacks as Iraq fell into civil war..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28878556/

"...While Iraq in the 1950s was the first Arab country to name a woman minister and adopt a progressive family law, the leadership aspirations of women were mostly quashed under Saddam's macho regime..."

http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/01/28/mideast/election.4-418001.php

Also in the second article is this: "...one allows a rapist to largely escape punishment if he marries his victim..."

I don't know any specifics about the law referenced in the article.

Further information on the treatment of women prior to the fall of Saddam: http://www.iraqiwomensleague.org/human_rights_watch_briefing_pape.htm