Hanging the womb of Iraq: Stop the executions!
The BRussells Tribunal Committee | 28.02.2007 12:43 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Terror War | World
We demand the release of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa and all political prisoners in Iraq. There is no honour in murdering women. Occupation is the highest form of dictatorship. It is not these three women who should be prosecuted; it is this government and its foreign paymaster.
Wassan Talib, 31 years old, Zainab Fadhil, 25 years old, and Liqa Omar Muhammad, 26 years old, face imminent execution in Iraq, all charged with “offences against the public welfare” by a government that cannot even provide electricity but fills the streets with dead bodies. All are in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in prison. All women deny the charges for which they face hanging.
Paragraph 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, under which they were judged, reads: “Any person who wilfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death.” Iraq’s “puppet” government charges these women with its own crimes.
None of the three women was permitted to see a lawyer. The trials to which they were subject are illegal under international law. All three are prisoners of war with protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. Their execution would not only be illegal and summary, it would be utterly immoral. Civilization around the world reviles the death penalty while Iraq’s feudal leaders make a public spectacle of executions.
In a country where it is evident there is no state or judicial system, the occupation and its puppet government use, as all repressive regimes in history, fake tribunals to exterminate those who oppose them. No legal judgement can be issued while there isn’t the civilised conditions of due process, at least the presence and security of lawyers.
Iraqi women are testament to the life of the nation of Iraq. By contrast, the US-installed government, in its backwardness, imposes only a culture of death. Whereas Iraq was the most progressive state in the region for women’s rights, with the US invasion protective legislation was cancelled. The United States and its local conspirators, in creating hundreds of thousands of widows and reducing life in Iraq to a struggle for bare survival, have placed women in the crosshairs and now on the gallows.
Women are always the first and last victims of war. We celebrate the numberless acts of resistance of Iraqi women, whether their resilience in the face of a culture of rape, torture and murder by US and Iraqi forces, their fortitude in continuing to give life amid state-sponsored genocide, their dignity as they try to maintain a semblance of normality for their children and families, their courage in burying their husbands, sons, daughters or brothers, or in direct action against an illegal and failed military occupation.
We demand the release of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa and all political prisoners in Iraq. We call upon all persons, organisations, parliaments, workers, syndicates and states to withdraw recognition from this pro-occupation, sectarian Iraqi government. We call for immediate protest in front of every Iraqi embassy worldwide. There is no honour in murdering women. Occupation is the highest form of dictatorship. It is not these three women who should be prosecuted; it is this government and its foreign paymaster.
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayse Berktay
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First endorsers:
Lieven De Cauter, initiator of the BRussells Tribunal, philosopher, K.U. Leuven / Rits – Belgium
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, chairman of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation – Malaysia
Eduardo Galeano, Essayist, journalist, historian, and activist – Uruguay
Ramsey Clark, former attorney general of the United States, founder of the International Action Centre – USA
Dr Curtis Doebbler, international human rights lawyer, professor of law at An–Najah National University – Palestine
Hans Von Sponeck, former UN assistant secretary general & UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, 1998-2000 – Germany
Anna Karamanou, former member of the European Parliament, former chairwomen of the Committee of Women’s Rights of the European Parliament
Amy Bartholomew, professor of law – Canada
Aida Seif El Dawla, founding member and chairperson of the Egyptian Association Against Torture, El–Nadim Centre for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence – Egypt
Karen Parker, Attorney, Association of Humanitarian Lawyers – USA
Paola Manduca, Professor of Genetics, Anti–war movement – Italy
Susan George, director of the Transnational Institute – France
Salah Omar Al Ali, former representative of Iraq at the UN, Al-Wifaq – Iraq
Nilofer Bhagwat, vice president of Indian Lawyers Association – Mumbai / India
Saadallah Al-Fathi, former head of the Energy Studies Department at OPEC – Iraq
Mondher Adhami, research fellow at Kings College London – Iraq / UK
Wafaa Al-Natheema, founder of the Institute for Near Eastern and African Studies – USA
Dahlia Wasfi, Anti-war activist, speaker, Global Exchange – Iraq / USA
Eman Ahmed Khammas, former co-director of Occupation Watch, journalist, translator – Iraq
Dr Fadhil Bedran, author – Iraq
John Catalinotto, International Action Centre – USA
Sara Flounders, International Action Centre – USA
Sigyn Meder, member of the Iraq Solidarity Association – Sweden
Socorro Gomes, president of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
José Reinaldo Carvalho, Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
Carlos Varea, coordinator and Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq, CEOSI – Spain
Khaled Mouammar, National President of the Canadian Arab Federation – Canada
Ahmed Manai, director of the Tunisian Institute for International Relations – France
Ali Al-Sarraf, author – Iraq
Hussein Al-Alak, chair of The Iraq Solidarity Campaign – UK / Iraq
Paola Pisi, founder of Uruknet – Italy
Dr Esmail Nooriala, Iranian-American writer and Lecturer on Islam University of Denver – USA
Dr Chris Busby, Scientific Secretary to the European Committee on Radiation Risk. Expert and author on DU – UK
Dr Suhair Abbas, senior lecturer at the University of Sains, Malaysia – Iraq
Mona Baker, professor of translation studies, University of Manchester – UK
Sarah Meyer, independent researcher – UK
Samia Mehrez, professor of Arabic studies – Egypt
Petros Constantinou, national coordinator, Campaign Genoa 2001 – Greece
Jean Bricmont, scientist, specialist in theoretical physics, U.C. Louvain-La-Neuve – Belgium
Yiannis Sifakakis, coordinator, Stop the War Coalition Greece – Greece
Maria Ligia Centurion Prieto, member of La Unión de Mujeres Paraguayas (Paraguay-Sud América) – Paraguay
Ludo Abicht, University of Antwerpen – Belgium
Dr Barbara Nimri Aziz, executive producer, “Tahrir”, Pacifica WBAI Radio, NY – USA
Lamis Jamal Deek, attorney, member of Al-Awda New York – Palestine
Ceylan Özerengin, journalist – Turkey
Jan–Erik Lundström, director of the BildMuseet in Umea, co-organiser of the Iraqi Equation – Sweden
Amira Howeidy, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Serene Assir, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Dr Herman De Ley, emeritus professor, Department of Philosophy and Moral Science, Ghent University – Belgium
Alison Weir, executive director, “If Americans Knew” – USA
Iraq Solidarity Association in Stockholm
Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz Cebrapaz (Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the People's Struggle for Peace)
The BRussells Tribunal Committee
Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq, CEOSI
International Action Center
International Anti-Occupation Network
International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
Gerald and Maas
Canadian Arab Federation
Tunisian Institute of International Relations, Paris
Click here for more complete list of endorsers.
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Statement by Abdul Ilah Albayaty
(11 February 2007)
Wassan Talib, 31 years old, Zainab Fadhil, 25 years old, and Liqa Omar Mohammed, 26 years old, accused of belonging to and participating in the Iraqi resistance, summarily judged in a simulacra of a trial, in the absence of lawyers, will be executed 3 March 2007 in Baghdad.
Lawyers, persuaded that your very presence is the guarantee of justice
Syndicates and workers who celebrate the international feast of 1 May in memory of the American workers judged on false accusations
Religious of all religions who carry in you the suffering of Christ, crucified after a false trial
Marxists revolted by the false trials fabricated by powers like the one of Rosa Luxembourg
Militants conscious that this could happen to you whatever is your cause
Defenders of human rights, in particular the right to fair trial
Women who give life and of whom the flesh shakes in front of the atrocity of such executions
Arabs, proud and in solidarity with the sacrifices of the Iraqi people against the barbarity of the occupation and its puppet government
Civilised beings, human beings who refuse the so-called “legal” murders perpetrated by states
ALL, let’s unite ourselves, raise our voices to scream our indignation, refuse the horrors and the regression of our civilisation, and prevent the assassinations of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa.
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
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We hope all endorse, distribute widely, organize and act. Please reply to
hanaalbayaty@gmail.com
! إعدام لرحم العراق!
أوقفوا هذه الإعدامات
وسن طالب، 31 سنة؛ زينب فاضل ، 25 سنة؛ و لقاء عمر محمد، 26 سنة
يواجهن الموت شنقا في العراق. فجميعهن متهمات بـ "جرائم ضد الصالح العام" من قبل حكومة غير قادرة حتى على توفير الكهرباءوإن كانت قادرة على ملء الشوارع بالجثث. ان الثلاثة محتجزات في سجن الكاظمية في بغداد. اثنتان منهن محتجزات مع أطفالهن: فلقاء أنجبت ابنتها ذات العام الواحد في السجن. والثلاثة ينفين قيامهن بالجرائم التي سوف يشنقن من أجلها.
الفقرة الـ 156 من القانون الجنائي العراقي، والتي حوكمن بناء عليها، تنص على أن "أي شخص يؤتي فعلا عمدا بنية انتهاك استقلال البلاد أو وحدته أو أمن أراضيه يؤدي هذا الفعل، بحكم طبيعته ، إلى انتهاك يعاقب عليه بالموت". والآن تقوم الحكومة العراقية التابعة للإحتلال باتهام هؤلاء النساء بما ترتكبه هي من جرائم.
ان النساء الثلاثة لم يسمح لأي منهن بتوكيل محامي، كما ان المحاكمة التي حوكمن بها هي محاكمة غير شرعية حسب القانون الدولي. فالنساء الثلاثة هم في واقع الأمر أسيرات حرب لهن حقوق، نصت عليها اتفافية جنيف الثالثة. إن إعدام هؤلاء النساء الثلاث ليس فقط غير قانوني وإنما هو ايضا غير أخلاقي. ففي الوقت الذي تتجه فيه البشرية المتحضرة في كل مكان في العالم إلى نبذ عقوبة الاعدام، نجد ان القيادات الاقطاعية في العراق تحتفل بالاعدامات العلنية.
في بلد يفتقد بوضوح إلى وجود الدولة و وجود نظام قضائي، يستخدم الاحتلال وحكومته التابعة، كأي نظام قمعي على مدى التاريخ، يستخدم المحاكمات الصورية للقضاء على كل معارضة.
لا يجوز النطق بأي حكم قانوني في غياب الشروط الحضارية المتعارف عليها للمحاكمة، والتي يتمثل ابسطها في وجود والحق في تعيين المحامين.
إن نساء العراق هم الشهود على الحياة في العراق. على العكس من ذلك، نجد ان الحكومة الرجعية والمعينة من قبل الاحتلال الأمريكي لا تقدم سوى ثقافة الموت. فبينما ان العراق كان اكثر بلدان المنطقة تقدما فيما يخص حقوق النساء، نجد أن الاحتلال الأمريكي قد أدى إلى إلغاء كافة التشريعات الحامية للنساء.
لقد تسببت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية في ترمل مئات الآلاف من النساء وحولت الحياة في العراق إلى صراع من أجل البقاء، ووضعت نساء العراق في مفترق طرق الموت، والآن أيضا، على المشانق.
النساء هن دائما أول وآخر ضحايا الحرب. إننا نتضامن مع كل أشكال المقاومة اللانهائية للنساء العراقيات، سواء كان ذلك المتمثل في مقاومتهن لثقافة الاغتصاب والتعذيب والقتل بواسطة الولايات المتحدة والقوى العراقية، أو في قدراتهن الهائلة على الاستمرار في الحياة في وسط الإبادة العرقية التي تقودها الدولة، أو في الحفاض كرامتهن وتحملهن وهن يحاولن أن يحافظن على ما يشبه الحياة الطبيعية بالنسبة لأطفالهن وأسرهن، أو في شجاعتهن في دفن أزواجهن وأبناءهن وبناتهن أو إخوتهن أو من خلال مقاومتهن المباشرة للاحتلال العسكري غير الشرعي والمهزوم.
إننا نطالب بالإفراج عن وسن و زينب و لقاء وكافة السجناء السياسيين في العراق. إننا نناشد كافة الأفراد والمنظمات والبرلمانات والعمال والنقابيين والدول أن تسحب اعترافها بالحكومة الطائفية العراقية المتحالفة مع الاحتلال. كما إننا نطالب بتنظيم الاحتجاجاتأمام كافة السفارات العراقية في كل مكان في العالم.
ليس هناك شرف في قتل النساء.
الاحتلال هو أعلى أشكال الديكتاتورية.
ليس هؤلاء النساء الثلاث اللاتي يجب ان يقدمن إلى المحاكمة، وإنما هذه الحكومة وأسيادها الأجانب.
هناء البياتي
يان دوجلاس
عبدالإله البياتي
إيمان السعدون
ديرك ادريائنسون
عايشة بركتي
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Déclaration de Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens et Ayse Berktay
(14 février 2007)
Pendre les entrailles de l’Irak
Arrêtez les exécutions!
Wassan Talib, 31 ans, Zainab Fadhil, 25 ans, et Liqa Omar Muhammad, 26 ans, font face à une exécution imminente en Irak, toutes accusées d' “offenses envers le bien-être public” par un gouvernement qui ne peut même pas fournir l'électricité mais qui remplit les rues de cadavres. Toutes sont dans la prison de Al-Kadhimiya à Bagdad. Deux ont de jeunes enfants à leurs côtés. La fillette de 1 ans de Liqa est née en prison. Les trois femmes nient les accusations portées contre elles pour lesquelles elles risquent la pendaison.
Le paragraphe 156 du Code pénal irakien, en vertu duquel elles ont été jugées, dit: “Toute personne qui commet volontairement un acte avec l'intention de violer l'indépendance du pays ou son unité ou la sécurité de son territoire et dont l’acte par sa nature, mène à cette violation est passible de la peine de mort”. Le gouvernement “fantoche” irakien accuse ces femmes de ses propres crimes.
Aucune des trois femmes n'a eu la permission de voir un avocat. Elles ont subi des procès qui sont illégaux en vertu du droit international. Toutes trois sont des prisonnières de guerre dont les droits sont protégés en vertu de la Troisième Convention de Genève. Leur exécution ne serait pas seulement illégale et sommaire, elle serait totalement immorale. A travers le monde, la civilisation méprise la peine de mort pendant que les dirigeants féodaux de l'Irak présentent les exécutions comme un spectacle public.
Dans un pays où il n'y a de toute évidence ni Etat ni système judiciaire, l'occupation et son gouvernement fantoche utilisent, comme tous les régimes répressifs à travers l'histoire, de faux tribunaux pour exterminer leurs opposants. Aucun jugement légal ne peut être émis alors que les conditions civilisées pour une procédure équitable ne sont pas en place, la moindre étant la présence et la sécurité des avocats.
Les femmes irakiennes témoignent de la vie de la nation irakienne. Par contre, le gouvernement installé par les Etats-Unis, par ses tendances rétrogrades, n'impose qu'une culture de mort. Alors que l’Irak était l’état le plus progressiste de la région concernant les droits de la femme, avec l’invasion étatsunienne, toute cette législation de protection a été annulée. Les États-Unis et leurs conspirateurs locaux, en créant des centaines de milliers de veuves et en réduisant la vie en Irak à une lutte pour la simple survie, ont placé les femmes en ligne de mire, et maintenant sur la potence.
Les femmes sont toujours les premières et les dernières victimes de la guerre. Nous célébrons les innombrables actes de résistance des femmes irakiennes, que ce soit leur résilience face à une culture de viol, de torture et de meurtre par les forces étasuniennes et irakiennes, leur courage de continuer à donner la vie au cœur d’un génocide sponsorisé par l’État, leur dignité alors qu’elles essaient de maintenir un semblant de normalité pour leurs enfants et leur famille, leur courage alors qu’elles enterrent leur mari, leurs fils, leurs filles ou leurs frères, ou en action directe contre une occupation militaire illégale et dont l’échec est patent.
Nous réclamons la libération de Wassan, Zainab et Liqa et de tous les prisonniers politiques en Irak. Nous demandons à toute personne, organisation, parlement, travailleur, syndicat et État de cesser de reconnaître ce gouvernement irakien pro-occupation et sectaire. Nous appelons à des protestations immédiates devant toutes les ambassades irakiennes à travers le monde. Il n’y a pas d’honneur à assassiner les femmes. L’occupation est la plus haute forme de dictature. Ce ne sont pas ces trois femmes qui devraient être poursuivies : c’est ce gouvernement et ses maîtres et bailleurs étrangers.
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayse Berktay
Déclaration de Abdul Ilah Albayaty
(11 février 2007)
Wassan Talib, 31 ans, Zainab Fadhil, 25 ans, et Liqa Omar Mohammed, 26 ans, accusées d’appartenir et de participer à la résistance irakienne, jugées sommairement dans un simulacre de procès, en l’absence d’avocats, seront exécutées le 3 mars 2007 à Bagdad.
Avocats, convaincus que votre seule présence est une garantie de justice
Syndicalistes et travailleurs qui célébrez la fête internationale du 1er mai en mémoire des travailleurs étasuniens jugés sur de fausses accusations
Adeptes de toutes les religions qui portez en vous la souffrance du Christ, crucifié suite à un faux procès
Marxistes révoltés par les faux procès fabriqués par les puissants tel que celui de Rosa Luxembourg
Militants conscients que ça pourrait vous arriver peu importe votre cause
Défenseurs des droits de la personne, en particulier le droit à un procès juste
Femmes qui donnez la vie et dont la chair tremble devant l’atrocité de telles exécutions
Arabes, fiers et en solidarité avec les sacrifices du peuple irakien contre la barbarie de l’occupation et de son gouvernement fantoche
Êtres civilisés, êtres humains qui refusez les meurtres soit disant « légaux » commis par les États
TOUS ET TOUTES, unissons-nous, levons nos voix pour crier notre indignation, refuser les horreurs et les régressions de notre civilisation et prévenir l’assassinat de Wassan, Zainab et Liqa.
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
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Tres mujeres iraquíes se enfrentan a la horca tras un juicio sin garantía legal alguna
No a las ejecuciones
Declaración Internacional *
Tribunal BRussells (www.brusselstribunal.org), 14 de febrero, 2007
IraqSolidaridad (www.iraqsolidaridad.org), 18 de febrero, 2007
Traducido del inglés por Paloma Valverde
“A ninguna de estas tres mujeres se le ha permitido el derecho a un abogado. Los juicios a los que las sometieron eran ilegales de acuerdo con la legalidad internacional. Las tres son prisioneras de guerra con estatuto protegido según la Tercera Convención de Ginebra. Su ejecución sería no sólo ilegal y sumaria, sino completamente inmoral. La civilización del mundo repudia la pena de muerte al tiempo que los dirigentes feudales en Iraq hacen un espectáculo público de las ejecuciones.”
Wassan Talib, de 31 años, Zeynab Fadil, de 25 y Liqa Omar Muhammad de 26, todas ellas acusadas de “delitos contra la sociedad” por un gobierno que ni siquiera es capaz de suministrar electricidad a la población pero que llena las calles de cadáveres, se enfrentan a una ejecución inminente en Iraq [1]. Todas ellas están en la prisión de Kadimiya de Bagdad. Dos de ellas tienen hijos pequeños. La hija de Liqa, de un año, nació en la cárcel. Todas las mujeres niegan las acusaciones por las que se enfrentan a la horca.
El párrafo 156 del Código Penal iraquí, según el cual se las juzgó, señala que “[…] cualquier persona que cometa intencionadamente un acto con la pretensión de violar la independencia de su país o su unidad, o la seguridad de su territorio y que ese acto, por su naturaleza, implique tal violación es punible con la pena de muerte”. El gobierno títere acusa a esas mujeres de sus mismos crímenes.
Falsos tribunales
A ninguna de estas tres mujeres se le ha permitido el derecho a un abogado. Los juicios a los que las sometieron eran ilegales de acuerdo con la legalidad internacional. Las tres son prisioneras de guerra con estatuto protegido según la Tercera Convención de Ginebra. Su ejecución sería no sólo ilegal y sumaria, sino completamente inmoral. La civilización del mundo repudia la pena de muerte al tiempo que los dirigentes feudales en Iraq hacen un espectáculo público de las ejecuciones.
En un país en el que es evidente que no hay un sistema estatal o judicial, la ocupación y su gobierno marioneta utiliza, como en todos los regímenes represivos de la Historia, tribunales falsos para exterminar a quienes se le oponen. No se puede celebrar ningún juicio legal mientras no se den las condiciones para un proceso debido, al menos la presencia y la seguridad de los abogados.
Las mujeres iraquíes son la memoria de la vida de la nación de Iraq. Por el contrario, el gobierno nombrado por EEUU impone en su atraso únicamente una cultura de muerte. Mientras Iraq era el Estado más progresista de la región respecto a los derechos de la mujer, con la invasión estadounidense se abolió la legislación protectora [de la mujer]. EEUU y sus conspiradores locales, al provocar cientos de miles de viudas y reducir la vida en Iraq a la lucha por la mera supervivencia, colocaron a la mujer en el punto de mira y ahora en la horca.
Resistencia de las mujeres
Las mujeres son siempre las primeras y las últimas víctimas de la guerra. Aplaudimos los incontables actos de resistencia de la mujer iraquí, ya sea su resistencia frente a la cultura de la violación, de la tortura y del asesinato por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses e iraquíes, su fortaleza en seguir dando vida en medio de un genocidio patrocinado por el estado, su dignidad al enterrar a sus maridos, hijos, hijas o hermanos, o sus acciones directas contra una ocupación militar, ilegal y fracasada.
Exigimos la puesta en libertad de Wassan, Zeynab y Liqa y de todos los presos y presas políticos en Iraq. Apelamos a todas las personas, organizaciones, parlamentos, trabajadores, sindicatos y Estados a retirar el reconocimiento a este gobierno iraquí pro-ocupación y sectario. Llamamos a realizar protestas de forma inmediata frente a cada embajada iraquí en el mundo. No hay honor alguno en asesinar a mujeres. La ocupación es la mayor dictadura. No son estas tres mujeres a las que se debe juzgar; sino a este gobierno y a sus pagadores extranjeros.
* Esta declaración ha sido promovida por Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens y Ayse Berktay.
Además de las adhesiones individuales, la declaración cuenta con los primeros apoyos de Iraq Solidarity Association (Estocolmo), Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz Cebrapaz, BRussells Tribunal Committee, International Action Center (EEUU), International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Gerald and Maas, Canadian Arab Federation, Tunisian Institute of International Relations (Paris), además de la CEOSI
Texto original en inglés en:
http://www.brusselstribunal.org/hanging.htm
Nota de IraqSolidaridad:
1. Véase en IraqSolidaridad: http://www.nodo50.org/iraq/2007/docs/represion_13-02-07.html .
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Irak'ın Rahmini Asmak
İdamları Durdurun!
Irak'ta, 31 yaşındaki Wassan Talip, 25 yaşındaki Zeynep Fadıl, ve 26 yaşındaki Liqa Ömer Muhammed, yakın tarihte infazı beklenen ölüm cezasıyla karşı karşıyalar. Üçü de, elektrik hizmeti vermeyi bile başaramayan, ancak sokakları ölülerle dolduran bir hükümet tarafından "kamu refahına karşı suç" işlemekle suçlanıyorlar. Üçü de Bağdat'taki Al-Kadimiye Hapishanesi'ndeler. İkisinin yanında küçük çocukları da var. Liqa'nin 1 yaşındaki kızı hapishanede doğdu. Üç kadın da idam cezası yemelerine yol açan suçlamaları reddediyor.
Yargılandıkları Irak Ceza Kanunu'nun 156. Maddesine göre "ülkenin bağımsızlığına, birliğine veya ülke topraklarının güvenliğine halel getirmek kastıyla kendi iradesiyle eylemde bulunan herkes, bu eylem doğası gereği böyle bir ihlale yol açtığında, ölümle cezalandırılır." Irak'taki "kukla" hükümet bu kadınları kendi işlediği suçla suçlamaktadır.
Üç kadının da avukatla bağlantı kurmasına izin verilmemiştir. Yapılan duruşmalar, uluslararası hukuka göre, yasa dışıdır. Üç kadın da, Cenevre Sözleşmesi kapsamında korunan haklara sahip savaş esirleridir. İdam edilmeleri yasa dışı ve yargısız infaz olmakla kalmayıp, aynı zamanda ahlak dışı olacaktır. Tüm dünyada uygarlık ölüm cezasını lanetlerken Irak'ın feodal liderleri idamları teşhir gösterileri haline getirmektedirler.
Bir devletin ya da yargı sisteminin olmadığı aşikar olan bir ülkede işgal yönetimi ve onun kukla hükümeti, tarih boyunca bütün baskıcı rejimlerin yaptığı gibi, muhalifleri ortadan kaldırmak için sahte mahkemeleri kullanmaktadır. Uygar adil yargılama koşullarının olmadığı, en azından avukatların bulunmadığı ve avukat güvencesinin olmadığı koşullarda yasal karara varılamaz.
Iraklı kadınlar Irak ulusunun yaşama bağlılığının canlı kanıtıdır. Oysa ABD tarafindan kurulan hükümetin, tüm geriliğiyle dayattığı sadece ölüm kültürüdür. Bir zamanlar, bölgede, kadın hakları açısından en ileri ülke olan Irak’ta, ABD işgaliyle birlikte koruyucu yasalar kaldırılmıştır. Ülkede yüzbinlerce dul yaratan ve Irak'ta yaşamı salt bir ölüm kalım mücadelesine indirgeyen Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve onun yerel suç ortakları önce hedef tahtasına koydukları kadınları, şimdi de darağacına çıkartmaktadırlar.
Kadınlar her zaman savaşların ilk ve son kurbanlarıdırlar. Iraklı kadınların, ABD ve Irak güçleri tarafindan maruz bırakıldıkları tecavüz, işkence ve cinayetler karşısında yıkılmayarak, devlet destekli soykırım ortasında yaşam vermeye devam etmek metanetini göstererek, çocukları ve aileleri için, görünüşte de olsa, normal yaşamı onurlu bir şekilde devam ettirmeye çalışarak, kocalarını, oğullarını, kızlarını ve erkek kardeşlerini cesaretle gömerek ya da yasa dışı ve başarısız bir askeri işgale karşı cesaretle doğrudan eyleme geçerek gerçekleştirdikleri sayısız direniş eylemini selamlıyoruz.
Wassan, Zainab ve Liqa ve Irak'taki bütün siyasi mahkumların salıverilmesini talep ediyoruz. Bütün bireyleri, örgütleri,
parlamentoları, işçileri, sendikaları ve devletleri mevcut, işgal yanlısı ve mezhepçi Irak hükümetini tanımaktan vaz geçmeye çağırıyoruz. Herkesi dünya genelinde, bütün Irak elçilikleri önünde acilen protesto eylemleri düzenlemeye çağırıyoruz. Kadınları öldürmenin onurlu bir yanı yoktur. İşgal, diktatörlüğün en üst biçimidir. Yargılanması gereken bu üç kadın değil mevcut hükümet ve eline baktığı dışarıdaki patronudur..
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayşe Berktay
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PRACTICAL ACTION
These impending executions are illegal, immoral, summary and an outrage. For context, I encourage all to read the last piece by Layla Anwar and another posted on Truth-About-Iraqis.
There are at least four sets of things we can do:
1. Spread information in all of our networks, and in the media, on the imminent summary execution of the three Iraqi women. Contact local and national newspapers. Build pressure that way.2. Organize protests at US or Iraqi embassies worldwide.3. Pressure key human rights practitioners to intervene. Find below suggestions.4. Written protest to the holding authorities (Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the occupation). Find below draft letters.
Points 1 and 2 people can organize themselves.
Please keep us updated on your actions. Send mail to ian@powerfoundation.org and hanaalbayaty@gmail.com
3. Pressuring key human rights practitioners to intervene
We need pressure feeding upwards and downwards from all levels. I and others — including legal specialists — will work to submit urgent action petitions to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Others could usefully put pressure on (click on hyperlinks for emails):
a) the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Write directly to High Commissioner Louise Arbour and Cc this email. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". +41-22-917-9022 (fax) It may be useful to review the OHCHR model complaint form.
b) the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. Contact director Said Arikat or information officers Furat Al-Jamil and Adnan Jarrar, or Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Ashraf Qazi directly. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". (no known fax number — email only)
c) the EU Commissioner for Human Rights. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". + 33 (0)3-9021-5053 (fax)
NOTE: The response (if any) from Geneva and Brussels might well be that this is a issue for the Iraqi government, over which they have no power or influence. Kindly remind them that there is an occupation, and that there is no such thing as national jurisdiction under occupation. Remind them that several European countries are contributing, in one way or another, to Multinational Force-Iraq.
Human rights organizations can also be pressed to issue urgent alerts on this case and to take a position. Amnesty International already has and should be supported in this action and pressed to go further. Others (like Human Rights Watch) should be alerted and pressed to act.
Relevant human rights instruments:
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War
UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty
Iraqi Law of Criminal Proceedings with Amendments (1971)
4. Written protest to the holding authorities
Individuals must decide for themselves if they are willing to take the step of addressing the puppet forces of the occupation, or indeed the occupation itself.
a) Iraqi government:
Minister of Justice Hashim Al-Shilbi (Cc this email and also his deputy)
Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki
President Jalal Talabani
Draft letter of enquiry/protest to Iraqi authorities:
To Iraqi authorities in occupied Iraq
Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN representant in Iraq
IRIN news agency
Amnesty International
Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC
RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad
I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26) after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.
All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them. Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent Alert": http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads: "Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death."
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone. International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to their treatment in all respects.
Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.
In light of the above:
I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians (Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to fair trial.
I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and "extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.
Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50, adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.
I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In light of the above:
I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.
I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad in any communication.
Sincerely,
[ Signature here]
Cc addresses:
International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and Email.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.
UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.
IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.
Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.
Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.
Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.
BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.
b) Multinational Force-Iraq:
Address to: General David H. Petraeus Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq
Lieutenant General G. C. M. Lamb Deputy Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq Care of: MAJ Vincent Mitchell / CPT Tommy Mitchel.
Draft letter of enquiry/protest to the occupation:
To US command in occupied Iraq
Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN representant in Iraq
IRIN news agency
Amnesty International
Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC
RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad
I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26) after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.
All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them. Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent Alert": http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads: "Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death."
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone. International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to their treatment in all respects.
Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.
In light of the above:
I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians (Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to fair trial.
I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and "extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.
Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50, adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.
I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In light of the above:
I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.
I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad in any communication.
Sincerely,
[ Signature here]
Cc addresses:
International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and Email.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.
UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.
IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.
Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.
Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.
Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.
BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.
Dr Ian Douglas +44 207 067 8399 (fax)
Visiting Professor +972 59 9 426 906 (mobile Nablus)
Political Science Department +972 54 794 1029 (mobile Jerusalem)
An-Najah National University +20 12 167 1660 (mobile Cairo)
Nablus, Palestine
www.najah.edu
Paragraph 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, under which they were judged, reads: “Any person who wilfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death.” Iraq’s “puppet” government charges these women with its own crimes.
None of the three women was permitted to see a lawyer. The trials to which they were subject are illegal under international law. All three are prisoners of war with protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. Their execution would not only be illegal and summary, it would be utterly immoral. Civilization around the world reviles the death penalty while Iraq’s feudal leaders make a public spectacle of executions.
In a country where it is evident there is no state or judicial system, the occupation and its puppet government use, as all repressive regimes in history, fake tribunals to exterminate those who oppose them. No legal judgement can be issued while there isn’t the civilised conditions of due process, at least the presence and security of lawyers.
Iraqi women are testament to the life of the nation of Iraq. By contrast, the US-installed government, in its backwardness, imposes only a culture of death. Whereas Iraq was the most progressive state in the region for women’s rights, with the US invasion protective legislation was cancelled. The United States and its local conspirators, in creating hundreds of thousands of widows and reducing life in Iraq to a struggle for bare survival, have placed women in the crosshairs and now on the gallows.
Women are always the first and last victims of war. We celebrate the numberless acts of resistance of Iraqi women, whether their resilience in the face of a culture of rape, torture and murder by US and Iraqi forces, their fortitude in continuing to give life amid state-sponsored genocide, their dignity as they try to maintain a semblance of normality for their children and families, their courage in burying their husbands, sons, daughters or brothers, or in direct action against an illegal and failed military occupation.
We demand the release of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa and all political prisoners in Iraq. We call upon all persons, organisations, parliaments, workers, syndicates and states to withdraw recognition from this pro-occupation, sectarian Iraqi government. We call for immediate protest in front of every Iraqi embassy worldwide. There is no honour in murdering women. Occupation is the highest form of dictatorship. It is not these three women who should be prosecuted; it is this government and its foreign paymaster.
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayse Berktay
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First endorsers:
Lieven De Cauter, initiator of the BRussells Tribunal, philosopher, K.U. Leuven / Rits – Belgium
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, chairman of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation – Malaysia
Eduardo Galeano, Essayist, journalist, historian, and activist – Uruguay
Ramsey Clark, former attorney general of the United States, founder of the International Action Centre – USA
Dr Curtis Doebbler, international human rights lawyer, professor of law at An–Najah National University – Palestine
Hans Von Sponeck, former UN assistant secretary general & UN humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, 1998-2000 – Germany
Anna Karamanou, former member of the European Parliament, former chairwomen of the Committee of Women’s Rights of the European Parliament
Amy Bartholomew, professor of law – Canada
Aida Seif El Dawla, founding member and chairperson of the Egyptian Association Against Torture, El–Nadim Centre for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence – Egypt
Karen Parker, Attorney, Association of Humanitarian Lawyers – USA
Paola Manduca, Professor of Genetics, Anti–war movement – Italy
Susan George, director of the Transnational Institute – France
Salah Omar Al Ali, former representative of Iraq at the UN, Al-Wifaq – Iraq
Nilofer Bhagwat, vice president of Indian Lawyers Association – Mumbai / India
Saadallah Al-Fathi, former head of the Energy Studies Department at OPEC – Iraq
Mondher Adhami, research fellow at Kings College London – Iraq / UK
Wafaa Al-Natheema, founder of the Institute for Near Eastern and African Studies – USA
Dahlia Wasfi, Anti-war activist, speaker, Global Exchange – Iraq / USA
Eman Ahmed Khammas, former co-director of Occupation Watch, journalist, translator – Iraq
Dr Fadhil Bedran, author – Iraq
John Catalinotto, International Action Centre – USA
Sara Flounders, International Action Centre – USA
Sigyn Meder, member of the Iraq Solidarity Association – Sweden
Socorro Gomes, president of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
José Reinaldo Carvalho, Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
Carlos Varea, coordinator and Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq, CEOSI – Spain
Khaled Mouammar, National President of the Canadian Arab Federation – Canada
Ahmed Manai, director of the Tunisian Institute for International Relations – France
Ali Al-Sarraf, author – Iraq
Hussein Al-Alak, chair of The Iraq Solidarity Campaign – UK / Iraq
Paola Pisi, founder of Uruknet – Italy
Dr Esmail Nooriala, Iranian-American writer and Lecturer on Islam University of Denver – USA
Dr Chris Busby, Scientific Secretary to the European Committee on Radiation Risk. Expert and author on DU – UK
Dr Suhair Abbas, senior lecturer at the University of Sains, Malaysia – Iraq
Mona Baker, professor of translation studies, University of Manchester – UK
Sarah Meyer, independent researcher – UK
Samia Mehrez, professor of Arabic studies – Egypt
Petros Constantinou, national coordinator, Campaign Genoa 2001 – Greece
Jean Bricmont, scientist, specialist in theoretical physics, U.C. Louvain-La-Neuve – Belgium
Yiannis Sifakakis, coordinator, Stop the War Coalition Greece – Greece
Maria Ligia Centurion Prieto, member of La Unión de Mujeres Paraguayas (Paraguay-Sud América) – Paraguay
Ludo Abicht, University of Antwerpen – Belgium
Dr Barbara Nimri Aziz, executive producer, “Tahrir”, Pacifica WBAI Radio, NY – USA
Lamis Jamal Deek, attorney, member of Al-Awda New York – Palestine
Ceylan Özerengin, journalist – Turkey
Jan–Erik Lundström, director of the BildMuseet in Umea, co-organiser of the Iraqi Equation – Sweden
Amira Howeidy, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Serene Assir, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Dr Herman De Ley, emeritus professor, Department of Philosophy and Moral Science, Ghent University – Belgium
Alison Weir, executive director, “If Americans Knew” – USA
Iraq Solidarity Association in Stockholm
Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz Cebrapaz (Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the People's Struggle for Peace)
The BRussells Tribunal Committee
Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq, CEOSI
International Action Center
International Anti-Occupation Network
International Movement for a Just World (JUST)
Gerald and Maas
Canadian Arab Federation
Tunisian Institute of International Relations, Paris
Click here for more complete list of endorsers.
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Statement by Abdul Ilah Albayaty
(11 February 2007)
Wassan Talib, 31 years old, Zainab Fadhil, 25 years old, and Liqa Omar Mohammed, 26 years old, accused of belonging to and participating in the Iraqi resistance, summarily judged in a simulacra of a trial, in the absence of lawyers, will be executed 3 March 2007 in Baghdad.
Lawyers, persuaded that your very presence is the guarantee of justice
Syndicates and workers who celebrate the international feast of 1 May in memory of the American workers judged on false accusations
Religious of all religions who carry in you the suffering of Christ, crucified after a false trial
Marxists revolted by the false trials fabricated by powers like the one of Rosa Luxembourg
Militants conscious that this could happen to you whatever is your cause
Defenders of human rights, in particular the right to fair trial
Women who give life and of whom the flesh shakes in front of the atrocity of such executions
Arabs, proud and in solidarity with the sacrifices of the Iraqi people against the barbarity of the occupation and its puppet government
Civilised beings, human beings who refuse the so-called “legal” murders perpetrated by states
ALL, let’s unite ourselves, raise our voices to scream our indignation, refuse the horrors and the regression of our civilisation, and prevent the assassinations of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa.
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
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We hope all endorse, distribute widely, organize and act. Please reply to
hanaalbayaty@gmail.com ! إعدام لرحم العراق!
أوقفوا هذه الإعدامات
وسن طالب، 31 سنة؛ زينب فاضل ، 25 سنة؛ و لقاء عمر محمد، 26 سنة
يواجهن الموت شنقا في العراق. فجميعهن متهمات بـ "جرائم ضد الصالح العام" من قبل حكومة غير قادرة حتى على توفير الكهرباءوإن كانت قادرة على ملء الشوارع بالجثث. ان الثلاثة محتجزات في سجن الكاظمية في بغداد. اثنتان منهن محتجزات مع أطفالهن: فلقاء أنجبت ابنتها ذات العام الواحد في السجن. والثلاثة ينفين قيامهن بالجرائم التي سوف يشنقن من أجلها.
الفقرة الـ 156 من القانون الجنائي العراقي، والتي حوكمن بناء عليها، تنص على أن "أي شخص يؤتي فعلا عمدا بنية انتهاك استقلال البلاد أو وحدته أو أمن أراضيه يؤدي هذا الفعل، بحكم طبيعته ، إلى انتهاك يعاقب عليه بالموت". والآن تقوم الحكومة العراقية التابعة للإحتلال باتهام هؤلاء النساء بما ترتكبه هي من جرائم.
ان النساء الثلاثة لم يسمح لأي منهن بتوكيل محامي، كما ان المحاكمة التي حوكمن بها هي محاكمة غير شرعية حسب القانون الدولي. فالنساء الثلاثة هم في واقع الأمر أسيرات حرب لهن حقوق، نصت عليها اتفافية جنيف الثالثة. إن إعدام هؤلاء النساء الثلاث ليس فقط غير قانوني وإنما هو ايضا غير أخلاقي. ففي الوقت الذي تتجه فيه البشرية المتحضرة في كل مكان في العالم إلى نبذ عقوبة الاعدام، نجد ان القيادات الاقطاعية في العراق تحتفل بالاعدامات العلنية.
في بلد يفتقد بوضوح إلى وجود الدولة و وجود نظام قضائي، يستخدم الاحتلال وحكومته التابعة، كأي نظام قمعي على مدى التاريخ، يستخدم المحاكمات الصورية للقضاء على كل معارضة.
لا يجوز النطق بأي حكم قانوني في غياب الشروط الحضارية المتعارف عليها للمحاكمة، والتي يتمثل ابسطها في وجود والحق في تعيين المحامين.
إن نساء العراق هم الشهود على الحياة في العراق. على العكس من ذلك، نجد ان الحكومة الرجعية والمعينة من قبل الاحتلال الأمريكي لا تقدم سوى ثقافة الموت. فبينما ان العراق كان اكثر بلدان المنطقة تقدما فيما يخص حقوق النساء، نجد أن الاحتلال الأمريكي قد أدى إلى إلغاء كافة التشريعات الحامية للنساء.
لقد تسببت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية في ترمل مئات الآلاف من النساء وحولت الحياة في العراق إلى صراع من أجل البقاء، ووضعت نساء العراق في مفترق طرق الموت، والآن أيضا، على المشانق.
النساء هن دائما أول وآخر ضحايا الحرب. إننا نتضامن مع كل أشكال المقاومة اللانهائية للنساء العراقيات، سواء كان ذلك المتمثل في مقاومتهن لثقافة الاغتصاب والتعذيب والقتل بواسطة الولايات المتحدة والقوى العراقية، أو في قدراتهن الهائلة على الاستمرار في الحياة في وسط الإبادة العرقية التي تقودها الدولة، أو في الحفاض كرامتهن وتحملهن وهن يحاولن أن يحافظن على ما يشبه الحياة الطبيعية بالنسبة لأطفالهن وأسرهن، أو في شجاعتهن في دفن أزواجهن وأبناءهن وبناتهن أو إخوتهن أو من خلال مقاومتهن المباشرة للاحتلال العسكري غير الشرعي والمهزوم.
إننا نطالب بالإفراج عن وسن و زينب و لقاء وكافة السجناء السياسيين في العراق. إننا نناشد كافة الأفراد والمنظمات والبرلمانات والعمال والنقابيين والدول أن تسحب اعترافها بالحكومة الطائفية العراقية المتحالفة مع الاحتلال. كما إننا نطالب بتنظيم الاحتجاجاتأمام كافة السفارات العراقية في كل مكان في العالم.
ليس هناك شرف في قتل النساء.
الاحتلال هو أعلى أشكال الديكتاتورية.
ليس هؤلاء النساء الثلاث اللاتي يجب ان يقدمن إلى المحاكمة، وإنما هذه الحكومة وأسيادها الأجانب.
هناء البياتي
يان دوجلاس
عبدالإله البياتي
إيمان السعدون
ديرك ادريائنسون
عايشة بركتي
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Soutenez ce texte en diffusant et en y ajoutant votre signature. Veuillez répondre à l’adresse suivante:
hanaalbayaty@gmail.com Déclaration de Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens et Ayse Berktay
(14 février 2007)
Pendre les entrailles de l’Irak
Arrêtez les exécutions!
Wassan Talib, 31 ans, Zainab Fadhil, 25 ans, et Liqa Omar Muhammad, 26 ans, font face à une exécution imminente en Irak, toutes accusées d' “offenses envers le bien-être public” par un gouvernement qui ne peut même pas fournir l'électricité mais qui remplit les rues de cadavres. Toutes sont dans la prison de Al-Kadhimiya à Bagdad. Deux ont de jeunes enfants à leurs côtés. La fillette de 1 ans de Liqa est née en prison. Les trois femmes nient les accusations portées contre elles pour lesquelles elles risquent la pendaison.
Le paragraphe 156 du Code pénal irakien, en vertu duquel elles ont été jugées, dit: “Toute personne qui commet volontairement un acte avec l'intention de violer l'indépendance du pays ou son unité ou la sécurité de son territoire et dont l’acte par sa nature, mène à cette violation est passible de la peine de mort”. Le gouvernement “fantoche” irakien accuse ces femmes de ses propres crimes.
Aucune des trois femmes n'a eu la permission de voir un avocat. Elles ont subi des procès qui sont illégaux en vertu du droit international. Toutes trois sont des prisonnières de guerre dont les droits sont protégés en vertu de la Troisième Convention de Genève. Leur exécution ne serait pas seulement illégale et sommaire, elle serait totalement immorale. A travers le monde, la civilisation méprise la peine de mort pendant que les dirigeants féodaux de l'Irak présentent les exécutions comme un spectacle public.
Dans un pays où il n'y a de toute évidence ni Etat ni système judiciaire, l'occupation et son gouvernement fantoche utilisent, comme tous les régimes répressifs à travers l'histoire, de faux tribunaux pour exterminer leurs opposants. Aucun jugement légal ne peut être émis alors que les conditions civilisées pour une procédure équitable ne sont pas en place, la moindre étant la présence et la sécurité des avocats.
Les femmes irakiennes témoignent de la vie de la nation irakienne. Par contre, le gouvernement installé par les Etats-Unis, par ses tendances rétrogrades, n'impose qu'une culture de mort. Alors que l’Irak était l’état le plus progressiste de la région concernant les droits de la femme, avec l’invasion étatsunienne, toute cette législation de protection a été annulée. Les États-Unis et leurs conspirateurs locaux, en créant des centaines de milliers de veuves et en réduisant la vie en Irak à une lutte pour la simple survie, ont placé les femmes en ligne de mire, et maintenant sur la potence.
Les femmes sont toujours les premières et les dernières victimes de la guerre. Nous célébrons les innombrables actes de résistance des femmes irakiennes, que ce soit leur résilience face à une culture de viol, de torture et de meurtre par les forces étasuniennes et irakiennes, leur courage de continuer à donner la vie au cœur d’un génocide sponsorisé par l’État, leur dignité alors qu’elles essaient de maintenir un semblant de normalité pour leurs enfants et leur famille, leur courage alors qu’elles enterrent leur mari, leurs fils, leurs filles ou leurs frères, ou en action directe contre une occupation militaire illégale et dont l’échec est patent.
Nous réclamons la libération de Wassan, Zainab et Liqa et de tous les prisonniers politiques en Irak. Nous demandons à toute personne, organisation, parlement, travailleur, syndicat et État de cesser de reconnaître ce gouvernement irakien pro-occupation et sectaire. Nous appelons à des protestations immédiates devant toutes les ambassades irakiennes à travers le monde. Il n’y a pas d’honneur à assassiner les femmes. L’occupation est la plus haute forme de dictature. Ce ne sont pas ces trois femmes qui devraient être poursuivies : c’est ce gouvernement et ses maîtres et bailleurs étrangers.
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayse Berktay
Déclaration de Abdul Ilah Albayaty
(11 février 2007)
Wassan Talib, 31 ans, Zainab Fadhil, 25 ans, et Liqa Omar Mohammed, 26 ans, accusées d’appartenir et de participer à la résistance irakienne, jugées sommairement dans un simulacre de procès, en l’absence d’avocats, seront exécutées le 3 mars 2007 à Bagdad.
Avocats, convaincus que votre seule présence est une garantie de justice
Syndicalistes et travailleurs qui célébrez la fête internationale du 1er mai en mémoire des travailleurs étasuniens jugés sur de fausses accusations
Adeptes de toutes les religions qui portez en vous la souffrance du Christ, crucifié suite à un faux procès
Marxistes révoltés par les faux procès fabriqués par les puissants tel que celui de Rosa Luxembourg
Militants conscients que ça pourrait vous arriver peu importe votre cause
Défenseurs des droits de la personne, en particulier le droit à un procès juste
Femmes qui donnez la vie et dont la chair tremble devant l’atrocité de telles exécutions
Arabes, fiers et en solidarité avec les sacrifices du peuple irakien contre la barbarie de l’occupation et de son gouvernement fantoche
Êtres civilisés, êtres humains qui refusez les meurtres soit disant « légaux » commis par les États
TOUS ET TOUTES, unissons-nous, levons nos voix pour crier notre indignation, refuser les horreurs et les régressions de notre civilisation et prévenir l’assassinat de Wassan, Zainab et Liqa.
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
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Tres mujeres iraquíes se enfrentan a la horca tras un juicio sin garantía legal alguna
No a las ejecuciones
Declaración Internacional *
Tribunal BRussells (www.brusselstribunal.org), 14 de febrero, 2007
IraqSolidaridad (www.iraqsolidaridad.org), 18 de febrero, 2007
Traducido del inglés por Paloma Valverde
“A ninguna de estas tres mujeres se le ha permitido el derecho a un abogado. Los juicios a los que las sometieron eran ilegales de acuerdo con la legalidad internacional. Las tres son prisioneras de guerra con estatuto protegido según la Tercera Convención de Ginebra. Su ejecución sería no sólo ilegal y sumaria, sino completamente inmoral. La civilización del mundo repudia la pena de muerte al tiempo que los dirigentes feudales en Iraq hacen un espectáculo público de las ejecuciones.”
Wassan Talib, de 31 años, Zeynab Fadil, de 25 y Liqa Omar Muhammad de 26, todas ellas acusadas de “delitos contra la sociedad” por un gobierno que ni siquiera es capaz de suministrar electricidad a la población pero que llena las calles de cadáveres, se enfrentan a una ejecución inminente en Iraq [1]. Todas ellas están en la prisión de Kadimiya de Bagdad. Dos de ellas tienen hijos pequeños. La hija de Liqa, de un año, nació en la cárcel. Todas las mujeres niegan las acusaciones por las que se enfrentan a la horca.
El párrafo 156 del Código Penal iraquí, según el cual se las juzgó, señala que “[…] cualquier persona que cometa intencionadamente un acto con la pretensión de violar la independencia de su país o su unidad, o la seguridad de su territorio y que ese acto, por su naturaleza, implique tal violación es punible con la pena de muerte”. El gobierno títere acusa a esas mujeres de sus mismos crímenes.
Falsos tribunales
A ninguna de estas tres mujeres se le ha permitido el derecho a un abogado. Los juicios a los que las sometieron eran ilegales de acuerdo con la legalidad internacional. Las tres son prisioneras de guerra con estatuto protegido según la Tercera Convención de Ginebra. Su ejecución sería no sólo ilegal y sumaria, sino completamente inmoral. La civilización del mundo repudia la pena de muerte al tiempo que los dirigentes feudales en Iraq hacen un espectáculo público de las ejecuciones.
En un país en el que es evidente que no hay un sistema estatal o judicial, la ocupación y su gobierno marioneta utiliza, como en todos los regímenes represivos de la Historia, tribunales falsos para exterminar a quienes se le oponen. No se puede celebrar ningún juicio legal mientras no se den las condiciones para un proceso debido, al menos la presencia y la seguridad de los abogados.
Las mujeres iraquíes son la memoria de la vida de la nación de Iraq. Por el contrario, el gobierno nombrado por EEUU impone en su atraso únicamente una cultura de muerte. Mientras Iraq era el Estado más progresista de la región respecto a los derechos de la mujer, con la invasión estadounidense se abolió la legislación protectora [de la mujer]. EEUU y sus conspiradores locales, al provocar cientos de miles de viudas y reducir la vida en Iraq a la lucha por la mera supervivencia, colocaron a la mujer en el punto de mira y ahora en la horca.
Resistencia de las mujeres
Las mujeres son siempre las primeras y las últimas víctimas de la guerra. Aplaudimos los incontables actos de resistencia de la mujer iraquí, ya sea su resistencia frente a la cultura de la violación, de la tortura y del asesinato por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses e iraquíes, su fortaleza en seguir dando vida en medio de un genocidio patrocinado por el estado, su dignidad al enterrar a sus maridos, hijos, hijas o hermanos, o sus acciones directas contra una ocupación militar, ilegal y fracasada.
Exigimos la puesta en libertad de Wassan, Zeynab y Liqa y de todos los presos y presas políticos en Iraq. Apelamos a todas las personas, organizaciones, parlamentos, trabajadores, sindicatos y Estados a retirar el reconocimiento a este gobierno iraquí pro-ocupación y sectario. Llamamos a realizar protestas de forma inmediata frente a cada embajada iraquí en el mundo. No hay honor alguno en asesinar a mujeres. La ocupación es la mayor dictadura. No son estas tres mujeres a las que se debe juzgar; sino a este gobierno y a sus pagadores extranjeros.
* Esta declaración ha sido promovida por Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens y Ayse Berktay.
Además de las adhesiones individuales, la declaración cuenta con los primeros apoyos de Iraq Solidarity Association (Estocolmo), Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz Cebrapaz, BRussells Tribunal Committee, International Action Center (EEUU), International Movement for a Just World (JUST), Gerald and Maas, Canadian Arab Federation, Tunisian Institute of International Relations (Paris), además de la CEOSI
Texto original en inglés en:
http://www.brusselstribunal.org/hanging.htm Nota de IraqSolidaridad:
1. Véase en IraqSolidaridad:
http://www.nodo50.org/iraq/2007/docs/represion_13-02-07.html . --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Irak'ın Rahmini Asmak
İdamları Durdurun!
Irak'ta, 31 yaşındaki Wassan Talip, 25 yaşındaki Zeynep Fadıl, ve 26 yaşındaki Liqa Ömer Muhammed, yakın tarihte infazı beklenen ölüm cezasıyla karşı karşıyalar. Üçü de, elektrik hizmeti vermeyi bile başaramayan, ancak sokakları ölülerle dolduran bir hükümet tarafından "kamu refahına karşı suç" işlemekle suçlanıyorlar. Üçü de Bağdat'taki Al-Kadimiye Hapishanesi'ndeler. İkisinin yanında küçük çocukları da var. Liqa'nin 1 yaşındaki kızı hapishanede doğdu. Üç kadın da idam cezası yemelerine yol açan suçlamaları reddediyor.
Yargılandıkları Irak Ceza Kanunu'nun 156. Maddesine göre "ülkenin bağımsızlığına, birliğine veya ülke topraklarının güvenliğine halel getirmek kastıyla kendi iradesiyle eylemde bulunan herkes, bu eylem doğası gereği böyle bir ihlale yol açtığında, ölümle cezalandırılır." Irak'taki "kukla" hükümet bu kadınları kendi işlediği suçla suçlamaktadır.
Üç kadının da avukatla bağlantı kurmasına izin verilmemiştir. Yapılan duruşmalar, uluslararası hukuka göre, yasa dışıdır. Üç kadın da, Cenevre Sözleşmesi kapsamında korunan haklara sahip savaş esirleridir. İdam edilmeleri yasa dışı ve yargısız infaz olmakla kalmayıp, aynı zamanda ahlak dışı olacaktır. Tüm dünyada uygarlık ölüm cezasını lanetlerken Irak'ın feodal liderleri idamları teşhir gösterileri haline getirmektedirler.
Bir devletin ya da yargı sisteminin olmadığı aşikar olan bir ülkede işgal yönetimi ve onun kukla hükümeti, tarih boyunca bütün baskıcı rejimlerin yaptığı gibi, muhalifleri ortadan kaldırmak için sahte mahkemeleri kullanmaktadır. Uygar adil yargılama koşullarının olmadığı, en azından avukatların bulunmadığı ve avukat güvencesinin olmadığı koşullarda yasal karara varılamaz.
Iraklı kadınlar Irak ulusunun yaşama bağlılığının canlı kanıtıdır. Oysa ABD tarafindan kurulan hükümetin, tüm geriliğiyle dayattığı sadece ölüm kültürüdür. Bir zamanlar, bölgede, kadın hakları açısından en ileri ülke olan Irak’ta, ABD işgaliyle birlikte koruyucu yasalar kaldırılmıştır. Ülkede yüzbinlerce dul yaratan ve Irak'ta yaşamı salt bir ölüm kalım mücadelesine indirgeyen Amerika Birleşik Devletleri ve onun yerel suç ortakları önce hedef tahtasına koydukları kadınları, şimdi de darağacına çıkartmaktadırlar.
Kadınlar her zaman savaşların ilk ve son kurbanlarıdırlar. Iraklı kadınların, ABD ve Irak güçleri tarafindan maruz bırakıldıkları tecavüz, işkence ve cinayetler karşısında yıkılmayarak, devlet destekli soykırım ortasında yaşam vermeye devam etmek metanetini göstererek, çocukları ve aileleri için, görünüşte de olsa, normal yaşamı onurlu bir şekilde devam ettirmeye çalışarak, kocalarını, oğullarını, kızlarını ve erkek kardeşlerini cesaretle gömerek ya da yasa dışı ve başarısız bir askeri işgale karşı cesaretle doğrudan eyleme geçerek gerçekleştirdikleri sayısız direniş eylemini selamlıyoruz.
Wassan, Zainab ve Liqa ve Irak'taki bütün siyasi mahkumların salıverilmesini talep ediyoruz. Bütün bireyleri, örgütleri,
parlamentoları, işçileri, sendikaları ve devletleri mevcut, işgal yanlısı ve mezhepçi Irak hükümetini tanımaktan vaz geçmeye çağırıyoruz. Herkesi dünya genelinde, bütün Irak elçilikleri önünde acilen protesto eylemleri düzenlemeye çağırıyoruz. Kadınları öldürmenin onurlu bir yanı yoktur. İşgal, diktatörlüğün en üst biçimidir. Yargılanması gereken bu üç kadın değil mevcut hükümet ve eline baktığı dışarıdaki patronudur..
Hana Albayaty
Ian Douglas
Abdul Ilah Albayaty
Iman Saadoon
Dirk Adriaensens
Ayşe Berktay
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PRACTICAL ACTION
These impending executions are illegal, immoral, summary and an outrage. For context, I encourage all to read the last piece by Layla Anwar and another posted on Truth-About-Iraqis.
There are at least four sets of things we can do:
1. Spread information in all of our networks, and in the media, on the imminent summary execution of the three Iraqi women. Contact local and national newspapers. Build pressure that way.2. Organize protests at US or Iraqi embassies worldwide.3. Pressure key human rights practitioners to intervene. Find below suggestions.4. Written protest to the holding authorities (Iraqi Ministry of Justice and the occupation). Find below draft letters.
Points 1 and 2 people can organize themselves.
Please keep us updated on your actions. Send mail to
ian@powerfoundation.org and hanaalbayaty@gmail.com 3. Pressuring key human rights practitioners to intervene
We need pressure feeding upwards and downwards from all levels. I and others — including legal specialists — will work to submit urgent action petitions to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary executions.
Others could usefully put pressure on (click on hyperlinks for emails):
a) the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Write directly to High Commissioner Louise Arbour and Cc this email. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". +41-22-917-9022 (fax) It may be useful to review the OHCHR model complaint form.
b) the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. Contact director Said Arikat or information officers Furat Al-Jamil and Adnan Jarrar, or Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Ashraf Qazi directly. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". (no known fax number — email only)
c) the EU Commissioner for Human Rights. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". + 33 (0)3-9021-5053 (fax)
NOTE: The response (if any) from Geneva and Brussels might well be that this is a issue for the Iraqi government, over which they have no power or influence. Kindly remind them that there is an occupation, and that there is no such thing as national jurisdiction under occupation. Remind them that several European countries are contributing, in one way or another, to Multinational Force-Iraq.
Human rights organizations can also be pressed to issue urgent alerts on this case and to take a position. Amnesty International already has and should be supported in this action and pressed to go further. Others (like Human Rights Watch) should be alerted and pressed to act.
Relevant human rights instruments:
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War
Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in Time of War
UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty
Iraqi Law of Criminal Proceedings with Amendments (1971)
4. Written protest to the holding authorities
Individuals must decide for themselves if they are willing to take the step of addressing the puppet forces of the occupation, or indeed the occupation itself.
a) Iraqi government:
Minister of Justice Hashim Al-Shilbi (Cc this email and also his deputy)
Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki
President Jalal Talabani
Draft letter of enquiry/protest to Iraqi authorities:
To Iraqi authorities in occupied Iraq
Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN representant in Iraq
IRIN news agency
Amnesty International
Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC
RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad
I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26) after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.
All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them. Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent Alert":
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007 Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads: "Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death."
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone. International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to their treatment in all respects.
Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.
In light of the above:
I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians (Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to fair trial.
I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and "extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.
Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50, adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.
I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In light of the above:
I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.
I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad in any communication.
Sincerely,
[ Signature here]
Cc addresses:
International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and Email.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.
UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.
IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.
Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.
Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.
Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.
BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.
b) Multinational Force-Iraq:
Address to: General David H. Petraeus Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq
Lieutenant General G. C. M. Lamb Deputy Commanding General Multi-National Force - Iraq Care of: MAJ Vincent Mitchell / CPT Tommy Mitchel.
Draft letter of enquiry/protest to the occupation:
To US command in occupied Iraq
Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN representant in Iraq
IRIN news agency
Amnesty International
Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC
RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad
I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26) after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.
All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them. Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent Alert":
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007 Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads: "Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security of its territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is punishable by death."
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone. International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to their treatment in all respects.
Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.
In light of the above:
I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians (Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to fair trial.
I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and "extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.
Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50, adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.
I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
In light of the above:
I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.
I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.
I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad in any communication.
Sincerely,
[ Signature here]
Cc addresses:
International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and Email.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.
UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.
IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.
Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.
Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.
Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.
BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.
Dr Ian Douglas +44 207 067 8399 (fax)
Visiting Professor +972 59 9 426 906 (mobile Nablus)
Political Science Department +972 54 794 1029 (mobile Jerusalem)
An-Najah National University +20 12 167 1660 (mobile Cairo)
Nablus, Palestine
www.najah.edu
The BRussells Tribunal Committee
Homepage:
http://www.brusselstribunal.org/hanging.htm
