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BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: In other news, President Bush this week acknowledged the U.S. still faces a "massive and long-term undertaking" in Iraq. But he said America will stay until freedom is "fully established." Here at home, there is growing concern about the nation building process in Iraq. Correspondent Kim Lawton spoke about the situation with Nina Shea, an influential religious liberty activist who charges U.S. policies on the ground are actually threatening the cause of freedom in Iraq.
KIM LAWTON: The American authority in Iraq is still struggling to stabilize security and restore basic services. But a leading human rights advocate says preoccupation with these issues is preventing the U.S. from addressing larger, potentially even more dangerous problems.
NINA SHEA (Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House): We know we have to get law and order. We know we have to get the electricity and water back on, and so we tackle those issues. But meanwhile, there is a growing organization among extremist elements in the Islamic community there that threaten the very survival of a free democratic state.
LAWTON: Nina Shea directs the Center for Religious Freedom at the Washington think tank Freedom House. She's also a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. In recent weeks, she has informally advised senior American officials about religious issues in Iraq.
She is concerned about the growing influence of extremist Shiite Muslims there.
Ms. SHEA: The U.S. reconstruction team at times has turned over neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, even towns to the Shiite clergy to run.
LAWTON: According to Shea, many of these clerics have been deeply influenced by the repressive, theocratic model of governance next door in Iran -- a model they are beginning to impose in Iraq.
In some areas, Iraqi women, including secular Muslims and Christians, are being harassed, even beaten, for not wearing veils in public. Cinemas have been closed, and the sale of liquor banned.
Ms. SHEA: It's a form of sharia law, Islamic law, that's being imposed on a de facto basis. Even more worrisome are Islamic courts that are being set up to settle disputes. These have been set up on an ad hoc basis, but with the acquiescence of the U.S. military, who's in charge. And the U.S. military at times has acted relieved that someone, at least, is there imposing order.
KIM LAWTON: The American authority in Iraq is still struggling to stabilize security and restore basic services. But a leading human rights advocate says preoccupation with these issues is preventing the U.S. from addressing larger, potentially even more dangerous problems.
NINA SHEA (Director, Center for Religious Freedom, Freedom House): We know we have to get law and order. We know we have to get the electricity and water back on, and so we tackle those issues. But meanwhile, there is a growing organization among extremist elements in the Islamic community there that threaten the very survival of a free democratic state.LAWTON: Nina Shea directs the Center for Religious Freedom at the Washington think tank Freedom House. She's also a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. In recent weeks, she has informally advised senior American officials about religious issues in Iraq.
She is concerned about the growing influence of extremist Shiite Muslims there.
Ms. SHEA: The U.S. reconstruction team at times has turned over neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, even towns to the Shiite clergy to run.
LAWTON: According to Shea, many of these clerics have been deeply influenced by the repressive, theocratic model of governance next door in Iran -- a model they are beginning to impose in Iraq.
In some areas, Iraqi women, including secular Muslims and Christians, are being harassed, even beaten, for not wearing veils in public. Cinemas have been closed, and the sale of liquor banned.Ms. SHEA: It's a form of sharia law, Islamic law, that's being imposed on a de facto basis. Even more worrisome are Islamic courts that are being set up to settle disputes. These have been set up on an ad hoc basis, but with the acquiescence of the U.S. military, who's in charge. And the U.S. military at times has acted relieved that someone, at least, is there imposing order.
LAWTON: Are U.S. officials equipped to deal with these kinds of complexities?
Ms. SHEA: We're reconstructing a political system that is rife with human rights abuses on every level.
LAWTON: In Iraq, Shea recommends that the U.S. authority headed by Paul Bremer immediately pull together a team specializing in religion. And she says they must work closely, but selectively, with local leaders.
Read more of Kim Lawton's 
