Iraqi Women's League issues an Open Letter to women in military families, inviting them put the Government on Trial for Crimes at Home and Abroad, as part of the Global Women's Strike - 6 March 2004, Trafalgar Square, London 3-6pm
Dear sisters in military families,
Invitation to protest with us as part of the Global Women's Strike on International Women’s Day to defend our loved ones
Saturday 6 March in Trafalgar Square
We write as the Iraqi Women’s League (IWL) UK which is the oldest women’s organisation in Iraq. Since 1952 when it was founded, the IWL , which is independent of all political parties, has played a significant role in the struggle against tyranny and repression in Iraq. Many of our members were executed or disappeared and thousands of our Iraqi sisters were tortured, raped and imprisoned, just for being members of our women’s movement, while the US and UK governments were the friends of our torturers.
We write as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives of people now living in Iraq who find themselves on the front line of this horrendous war. We are desperately worried about them, as you must be about your family members who are serving in the UK military forces.
We appeal to you as women to women whose loved ones face or have faced injury and death in the military on the grounds that women, who dedicate our lives to our beloved children and others in the family and community, can least tolerate the horrendous loss of life which has resulted from this war.
We feel that your children and other family members serving in the forces are in danger because Tony Blair and George Bush, who started this war, have no concern for your loved ones’ lives. If they had they would have ensured that Iraqi people feel secure and have the essentials of life but this hasn’t been done despite plenty of resources. Then Iraqi people would be less likely to be shooting the troops. The borders have been left open to thugs and armed gangs to enter, and there is no decent supply of water, electricity and other basic services. Our sister who recently went to Iraq was told that the sewage system couldn’t be repaired because a multi-national company had been given a billion dollar contract to renew it from scratch and that this would take a very long time – meanwhile people are suffering epidemic illnesses. People in Iraq also see rampant corruption with individuals and companies profiteering at the expense of their survival.
When 70% of the work force are unemployed with no way of getting an income to feed their families, is it any wonder that people are discontented and demoralised. They feel that the Americans want them to be beggars, to stay dependent on them and for the killing on all sides to carry on. If they did care, they would not prevent Iraqi people from being in charge of security. Instead, the old criminal Ba’athists have been given prominent positions with the excuse of peace and forgiveness! In this situation it is mothers and women in general who are most affected and feel most vulnerable.
In addition to all that women the carers face, there is widespread fury at the new Sharia law 137 which was imposed by the Iraqi Governing Council, on the 29th December 2003. A vote on this decision took place and it was passed by 11 out of 25. We know the Sharia law 137, it has denied women basic human rights to inheritance, employment, land, custody of our children. It will return women to the situation we faced before 1959, which we women sacrificed many lives to abolish. What is not known outside Iraq, is that this was imposed by minority leaders parities of the Governing Council and is opposed by the grassroots members of these parties. The US has done little to stop this law and we demand it be cancelled.
We must come together to prevent further injury, killing and destruction. Therefore we invite you to join us for an International Women’s Week event organised by the Global Women’s Strike on 6th March . GWS has organised events on IWD and throughout the year, for five years, bringing together women in over 60 countries under the theme Invest in Caring not Killing.
We want to work with you to put pressure on the British government to guarantee security and a decent standard of living for Iraqi people and in this way protect the lives of our families, friends and communities.
We know that if we as women join together across national divisions and demand justice for our loved ones, we will have the support of men and no government, not even the most brutal, can long stand up against women taking the lead with men’s support. We want to use the Strike to act with women in other countries against the slaughter of civilians and soldiers in Iraq. We know very well that this is not the only slaughter in the world but we can set an example of Iraqi women and women in Britain joining together. Otherwise none of us has a future. We enclose further information. We very much hope to hear from you.
Yours sincerely
Iraqi women’s League
Souad Al Jazairy
Invitation to protest with us as part of the Global Women's Strike on International Women’s Day to defend our loved ones
Saturday 6 March in Trafalgar Square
We write as the Iraqi Women’s League (IWL) UK which is the oldest women’s organisation in Iraq. Since 1952 when it was founded, the IWL , which is independent of all political parties, has played a significant role in the struggle against tyranny and repression in Iraq. Many of our members were executed or disappeared and thousands of our Iraqi sisters were tortured, raped and imprisoned, just for being members of our women’s movement, while the US and UK governments were the friends of our torturers.
We write as mothers, sisters, daughters and wives of people now living in Iraq who find themselves on the front line of this horrendous war. We are desperately worried about them, as you must be about your family members who are serving in the UK military forces.
We appeal to you as women to women whose loved ones face or have faced injury and death in the military on the grounds that women, who dedicate our lives to our beloved children and others in the family and community, can least tolerate the horrendous loss of life which has resulted from this war.
We feel that your children and other family members serving in the forces are in danger because Tony Blair and George Bush, who started this war, have no concern for your loved ones’ lives. If they had they would have ensured that Iraqi people feel secure and have the essentials of life but this hasn’t been done despite plenty of resources. Then Iraqi people would be less likely to be shooting the troops. The borders have been left open to thugs and armed gangs to enter, and there is no decent supply of water, electricity and other basic services. Our sister who recently went to Iraq was told that the sewage system couldn’t be repaired because a multi-national company had been given a billion dollar contract to renew it from scratch and that this would take a very long time – meanwhile people are suffering epidemic illnesses. People in Iraq also see rampant corruption with individuals and companies profiteering at the expense of their survival.
When 70% of the work force are unemployed with no way of getting an income to feed their families, is it any wonder that people are discontented and demoralised. They feel that the Americans want them to be beggars, to stay dependent on them and for the killing on all sides to carry on. If they did care, they would not prevent Iraqi people from being in charge of security. Instead, the old criminal Ba’athists have been given prominent positions with the excuse of peace and forgiveness! In this situation it is mothers and women in general who are most affected and feel most vulnerable.
In addition to all that women the carers face, there is widespread fury at the new Sharia law 137 which was imposed by the Iraqi Governing Council, on the 29th December 2003. A vote on this decision took place and it was passed by 11 out of 25. We know the Sharia law 137, it has denied women basic human rights to inheritance, employment, land, custody of our children. It will return women to the situation we faced before 1959, which we women sacrificed many lives to abolish. What is not known outside Iraq, is that this was imposed by minority leaders parities of the Governing Council and is opposed by the grassroots members of these parties. The US has done little to stop this law and we demand it be cancelled.
We must come together to prevent further injury, killing and destruction. Therefore we invite you to join us for an International Women’s Week event organised by the Global Women’s Strike on 6th March . GWS has organised events on IWD and throughout the year, for five years, bringing together women in over 60 countries under the theme Invest in Caring not Killing.
We want to work with you to put pressure on the British government to guarantee security and a decent standard of living for Iraqi people and in this way protect the lives of our families, friends and communities.
We know that if we as women join together across national divisions and demand justice for our loved ones, we will have the support of men and no government, not even the most brutal, can long stand up against women taking the lead with men’s support. We want to use the Strike to act with women in other countries against the slaughter of civilians and soldiers in Iraq. We know very well that this is not the only slaughter in the world but we can set an example of Iraqi women and women in Britain joining together. Otherwise none of us has a future. We enclose further information. We very much hope to hear from you.
Yours sincerely
Iraqi women’s League
Souad Al Jazairy
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