INTERNATIONAL CALL TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE IRAQI DETAINEES AND PRISONERS OF WAR 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 – Bruxelas 

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 – In . 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                         Univirsity  Professor, Member of the Democratic Movement of

                                                        Women – Portugal 

14- Klaus Hartmann                           Chairman of the German Association or Freethinkers , Vice president

                                                         Of Worldunion 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

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 tre , Italy

36- Ugo Giannangeli                    Avvocato , Milano ,

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- Helene Charif                  University Academic , Sweden

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- In

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

16 -Mr. Subhi Toma ........... Political activist / Iraq - France
117 -Mr. Iman Al saadoon ......... Political activist / Iraq
 118 – Dr.  Saad Dawood kiryakos .... University professor in Canada / Iraq

119 – Mr. Awni Al-Kalamji   ..... The official spokesman for the Iraqi National Alliance / Iraq - Denmark
  120 –Mr.  Engineer Suleiman Abdul-Jabbar Al-Kubaisi .... former  Prisoner in the U.S. occupation camps  / Iraq – France

 

Dr -Dia al-Shamri Sculptor Iraqi Vienna