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- 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- 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
121- Dr -Dia al-Shamri
Sculptor Iraqi Vienna
