International Call for Iraqi detainees and prisoners of war in Iraq
June 8th, 2008
London- A group of 120 politicians, academicians and Journalists from several countries issued an urgent appeal to protect the rights of the Iraqi detainees and prisoners of war in the American jails in Iraq.
INTERNATIONAL CALL TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE IRAQI DETAINEES AND PRISONERS OF WAR IN IRAQ
London- A group of 120 politicians, academicians and Journalists from several countries issued an urgent appeal to protect the rights of the Iraqi detainees and prisoners of war in the American jails in Iraq. The group also announced the formation of International Solidarity Committee with them and demanded that their treatment conforms with the Geneva Protocol vis-à-vis the detainees and prisoners of war. The signatories on the appeal stated:
“While we demand the release of the Iraqi detainees and prisoners of war, we insist that the US occupation force in Iraq apply the articles of the Geneva Protocol respecting the prisoners of war, and to cease and desist from all forms of torture against the detainees, and to allow international judicial and constitutional committees and the International Red Cross Organisation to visit all detaining camps in Iraq and examine the state of their occupants.”
The Appeal stated that the American occupation force in Iraq detains more than one hundred and fifty thousand detainee and prisoners of war scattered over more than 28 detaining camps, and that several thousands of them have been there more than five years under appalling conditions that contravene the articles of the Geneva Protocol respecting the prisoners of war. The Appeal also stated that “the majority of the detainees are elderly and suffering from health problems that may threaten their lives. There are also thousands of teenagers, females and kids who were detained as hostages in lieu of their spouses or their fathers.”
The Appeal affirms that all detainees and prisoners of war are constantly subjected to all kinds of extreme torture, degradation, and deprivation of self esteem and human dignity. All detainees are forbidden from communicating with the outside world, and most of them from visitations by their families or relatives. Among the signatories are eighty dignitaries; Members of European Parliaments Party Leaders, Political activists from various parts of the world, and thirty nine politicians, experts, academicians and journalists from Iraq and several Arab countries. The followings are the text of the Appeal and the list of the signatories:
The International Committee for Solidarity with Prisoners and Detainees in American Jails in Iraq(Nida’, the Call) The roaring of millions of the earth’s people growled on the month of February 2003 in the streets of major cities in rejection of the choice of war on Iraq . Those millions have been aware that peace cannot be achieved through destruction, war and the clash of civilizations. Events have proven this position to be right. The United States and the foreign armies supporting it have occupied Iraq and promised its people democracy, freedom, and prosperity. But the Iraqi people, five years into the occupation, still cannot find a place in its homeland that would be safe from American soldiers, the mercenaries of Blackwater, or from terrorists and militias who remain a product of the occupation - be they in agreement with it or not. Moreover, Iraqis still see no hope in the future if conditions remain as they have been under the occupation. Today more than three million Iraqis have turned to refugees in the diaspora for fear of murder and arrest. Those who remain continue to suffer the pains of the occupation. Some of them have been incarcerated in the ugliest jails on earth. At the present time, the forces of American occupation are holding more than one hundred and fifty thousand Iraqi prisoners and detainees dispersed over 28 detention camps. Thousands of those have been held for more than five years in harsh conditions violating the Geneva Conventions pertaining to the handling prisoners of war (POW’s), many of them older folks suffering from health problems or difficulties which threaten their lives. Thousands of other prisoners and detainees are young men, women, and children who have been taken hostage instead of their husbands and fathers. All of the prisoners and detainees are continuously subjected to the meanest possible forms of torture, insults, and debasement of human dignity. All of them are deprived of any means of communication with the outside world, and most are forbidden from meeting with their families and parents. Because we do not hold the American people responsible for the wars, occupation, and human rights violations transpiring from the policy of the current US administration, Because we deem ourselves responsible towards humanity first, and towards the Iraqi people second, we declare, before its too late, our opposition to the practices of the occupier running outlaw to the Conventions on Human Rights. This position of ours is a humanitarian one that is supportive of civilization, against all who commit wrongs against it, regardless of their cultural, ethnic, or geographical affiliation. This position of ours is not only a defense of the freedom and human rights of Iraqis, but a defense of humanity, of civilized values, and the system of justice and laws which should cover everyone, including Iraqis. We, in declaring and affirming our solidarity with those defending their legitimate rights in their homelands, and with Iraqi prisoners and detainees, condemn and decry the continuation of their detention, and call on all to initiate all possible activities and events to demand their release. We believe that justice is intertwined with freedom. Grass does not grow on the shields of American tanks of occupation, as the last five years have shown. But it does grow in the hearts of those who believe in man, his rights, and his dignity. We, in demanding the release of Iraqi prisoners and detainees, reaffirm the importance of holding American forces of occupation in Iraq to the letter of the Geneva Conventions pertaining to the treatment of prisoners, to stopping all forms of torture against detainees, and to allowing international legal and human rights organizations, and the Red Cross, to visit all American detention camps in Iraq to stay abreast of the situation of prisoners and detainees there. The International Committee for Solidarity with Prisoners and Detainees in American Jails in Iraq (Nida’, the Call) April 26, 2008
1-Bruno Dias, Member of Portuguese Parliament - Portugal
2- Carlos Candal, Lawyer , Ex–member of the European Parliament – Portugal
3- Maria Ilda C. Figueiredo, Member of the European Parliament – Economist
4- Muricio Miguel, Collaborator of the GUE/ NGL European Parliament – Brussels
5- Manuela Bernardino, Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Portuguese Communist Party
6- Angelo Alves, Member of the Politic Commission of Central committee of the Portuguese Communist Party
7- Graciete Cruz, Member Executive Committee of CGTP – Portugal
8- Amador Filipe Tomas Clemente, Member of MPPM – Portugal
9- Antonio Alves, Peace Activist - Portugal
10- Antonio Jose Avelas Nunes, University Professor - Portugal
11- Aquilino Ribeiro Machado, Engineer - Portugal
12- Armando Myre Dores, Psychologist – Portugal
13- Regina Marques, University Professor, Member of the Democratic Movement of Women – Portugal
14- Klaus Hartmann, Chairman of the German Association or Freethinkers, Vice president Of the World Union of Freethinkers
15- John Catalinotto, managing editor of Workers World, USA
16- Sara Flounders, co –director of the International Action Center, USA
17- Carlos Varea, Coordinator of the Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignity of Iraq (CEOSI(
18- Samir Amin, sociologist
19- Jorge Figueiredo, editor of Resistir.info, Portugal
20- Miguel Urbano Rodriguez, Former member of the European Parliament, editor of Odiario.info – Portugal
22- Willi Langthaler, Spokesman of the Anti – imperialist Camp, Austria
23- Abdul Ilah al Bayaty, writer – France
24- Ozgur Der, (Free Thought Association( - Turkey
25- Freedom Socialist Party, International Executive Committee - USA - Australia
26- Pedro Rojo, activist in the CEOSI( - Spain
27- Dr. Mario Novelli, professor at Amsterdam University - Netherlands
28- Rosa Regas, Writer, former Head of the National Spanish Library
29- Maruja Torres, Spanish writer and journalist
30- Gianni Vattimo, Filosofo ed ex Parlamentare Europeo – Italy
31- Danilo Zolo, Universita di Firenze – Italy
32- Costanzo Preve, Filosofo, Torino – Italy
33- Giovanni Franzoni, [ Comunita Cristiane di Base] – Italy
34- Marino Badiale. Universita di Torino – Italy
35- Bruno Antonio Bellerate, Universita Roma – Italy
36- Ugo Giannangeli, Avvocato Milano – Italy
37- Giuseppe Pelazza, Avvocato, Milano – Italy
38- Tusio De Iuliis, Presidente Associazione ) Aiutiamoli a Vivere) – Italy
39- Yukiko Ueno, Ricercatrice – Italy
40- Maria Grazia Ardizzone, Campo Antimperialista – Italy
41- Leonardo Mazzei, Comitato Nazionale Gaza Vivra – Italy
42- Dr. Helene Charif, University Academic – Sweeden
43- Francis Arzalier, Collectif communiste polex – France
44- Orlanda Gonzalez, University Professor – Spain
45- Jaime Ballesteros, President OSPAAAL – Spain
46- Jose Reinaldo, Journaliste/ecrivain - Brazil
47- Doggui Sliman, Neurologue – France
48- Francis Combes, Poete/Editeur – France
49- Carmem Dolores Marques, Journalist of TV1 (Portuguese TV) - Portugal
50-Fernando Mauricio, Translater-Interpreter – Portugal
51- Gloria Marreiros da Cunha, Writer – Museologist – Portugal
52-Gustavo Carneiro, Journalist, member of the Portuguese Council for Peace and Co –operation National Direction – Portugal
53- Henrique Luis P. Cunha, Engineer – Portugal
54-Herbert Goulart, Economist – Portugal
55- Jose Ernesto Cartaxo, Sindicalista – Portugal
56- Jose Goulao, Journalist - Portugal
57- Luis Azevedo,Lawyer - Portugal
58- Manuel Duran Clemente, Retired Colonel - Portugal
59- Maria de Lourdes Alves Rodrigues, Sociologist - Portugal
60- Maria do Ceu Guerra, Actress / Stage Manager - Portugal
61- Maria Elvira Palhinhas, Member of the Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation, National Direction - Portugal
62- Mario Padua, Medical doctor - Portugal
63- Jusev Skala, Writer - Rep.Tcheque
64- Stefan Chnopek, Lawyer - Rep .Tcheque
65- Kujera Jaroslav, Historian - Rep, Tcheque
66- Hlavaty Jaroslav, Retired officer - Rep. Tcheque
67- Lecko Radik, university professor - Rep. Tcheque
68- Sasa Novakova, Journalist - Rep.Tcheque
69- Radosinski Miche, Enterpreneur - Rep. Tcheque
70- Natacha Amaro, Technical of international relations, Member of the Democratic Movement of Women - Portugal
71- Rui Namorado Rosa, University Professor , President of the Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation - Portugal
72- Sandra Benfica, Member of the Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation, National Direction - Portugal
73- Sergio Vinagre, Medical Doctor - Portugal
74- Silas Cerquera, Member of MPPM, researcher on African Affairs - Portugal
75- Vitor Pedro G. Silva, Vice-President of the Portuguese Council for Peace and Co-operation - Portugal
76- Joao Corregedor da Fonseca, President of Democratic Intervention Association - Portugal
77- Francisco Navarro, Manager - Portugal
78- Fatima Amaral, member of Democratic Movement of Women - Portugal
79- Jose Neves, Member of MPPM - Portugal
80- Levy Baptista, Lawyer - Portugal
81- Manuel Carvalho da Silva, General Secretary of CGTP- Portugal
82 –Al Mahdi al menjera
83-Dr. Sameer Ameen
84- Albaseer Bomeza
85- khaled Aljame
86- Professor Yahya Yahyawi
87- Mr Mustafa Bakri, Chief Editor of Al-week Egyptian - Egypt
88- Mr - Hamdin Sabahi, member of the Egyptian People/Al Karama - Egypt
89- Dr. Ashraf Bayoumi, Writer and political activist - Egypt
99- Engineer Abul Ela Mady Abul Ela, Islamic political activist, Centre Party - Egypt
91- Mr Hamdan Hamdan, Writer and researcher - Palestine, Syria
92- Engineer Leith Shbeilat, Islamic political activist - Jordan
93- Dr. Ibrahim Alloush, Writer and political activist - Jordan
94- Mrs. Samira Rajab, Member of the Shura Council in Bahrain and writer - Bahrain
95- Mr. Hassan Ismail Abdel Azim, secretary-general counsel Party, Democratic Arab Socialist Union - Syria
96- Mr. Ahmed Fayez Fawaz, Chief Human Rights Association in Syria - Syria
97- Mr. Haitham Maleh, human rights activist - Syria
98- Mr. Mohammed Abdel-Maguid Majnona, Arab Socialist Union Party, the Democratic / ASG - Syria
99- Mr. Fateh Jamous, A leading Communist Labour Party - Syria
100- Mr. Raja Nasser, secretary of a rally in support of Jean Iraq - Syria
101- Mr . Shukri Belaid, Counsel - Tunisia
102- Mr.Fawzi Bin Murad, Counsel - Tunisia
103 – Mr. Abdul Nasser Al awini, lawyer - Tunisia
104 – Mr. Ahmed Sadik, lawyer - Tunisia
105 – Mr. Sami Tahiri, Union - Tunisia
106 – Mr. Al Habib Al Turifi, Union - Tunisia
107 – Mr. Abdul Rahman Alhotheli, Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights - Tunisia
108 – Mr. Mohammed bin hinda, Political activist - Tunisia
109 – Mr.Sabah al-Musawi, Political activist spaces
110 – Mr. Ahmed Buda, Prime radio station Al-Manar and political activist - Belgium
111 – Mr. Ahmad Kareem, Chairman of the Communist National Democratic Movement - Iraq - Jikia
112 – Mr. Qais Mohammad Nouri Researcher, university professor - Iraq – Yemen
113 – Mr Sabah Al Mokhtar Chairman of the Arab Lawyers Association in Britain - Iraq
114– Mr Ali Alsraf, Writer and journalist - Iraq - London
115- Mr. Subhi Toma, Political activist - Iraq - France
116- Mr. Iman Al saadoon, Political activist - Iraq
117- Dr. Saad Dawood kiryakos University professor in Canada - Iraq
118 – Mr. Awni Al-Kalamji, The official spokesman for the Iraqi National Alliance - Iraq - Denmark
119- Mr. Engineer Suleiman Abdul-Jabbar Al-Kubaisi former Prisoner in the U.S. occupation camps - Iraq – France
120- Dr -Dia al-Shamri Sculptor Iraqi Vienna - Austria