Appeal from the People of Iraq
14 February 2013
Your Excellencies:
Secretary-General of the United Nations- New York
The High Commissioner of Human Rights in the United Nations-Geneva
The President of the EU Parliament-Brussels
General Secretary of the Arab League-Cairo
President of the Arab Lawyers Union-Cairo
President of the Arab Jurists Union-Amman
Heads of Civil Society Organizations
In the name of Central Committee of Co-ordination to support the Iraqi uprising, which consists of conscious intellectual segment of the Iraqi society, representatives of Iraqi communities outside Iraq, and the coordinating committees of the demonstrations in all of the Iraqi provinces, and in the name of Iraqi civil society organizations in solidarity with thedemonstrators, we call upon you to know the realities of what is going on in Iraq now of horrible crimes and to take the necessary measures, according to your legal and ethical obligations.
The Iraqi people have reached a point where they can no longer tolerate more pains, so they have gone out in peaceful demonstrations and sit-in protests demanding an end to the violations their human rights, which were admitted by the international conventions and declarations and, of whose implementation you are the guardians and trustees. These peaceful demonstrations started at the end of last December 2012 until now, when they are approaching their 60th day. The people’s demands are the very essence of the fundamental human rights of free and dignified life, the rights of education, work and health, to end the systematic rape and torture of the innocent in prison, and to punish the perpetrators. They also demand to stop executions carried out in the absence of the simplest criteria of justice. One of the key demands is to annul Article 4 of Law against Terrorism, an article which is used as a pretext against political opponents. According to this Article tens of thousands of innocent political opponents and anyone who might have a different opinion of the government’s, are being arrested and kept in prisons. They also demand demilitarization of cities, and the appointment of a special UN human rights rapporteur in Iraq.
When the Government did not respond to these legitimate requests the demonstrators asked for changing the government and dropping the Constitution written during the American occupation of Iraq, a fact that undermines its legitimacy.
The crimes committed by the current Iraqi government headed by Nouri Al-maliki against the Iraqi people have exceeded all imagination and tolerance and cannot be accepted by any human beings under any circumstances. They are continuation of the crimes committed by the foreign invasion of Iraq in 2003. Where human dignity is wasted and the right of a free and dignified life are flagrantly violated. This corrupt Government has plunged thousands of Iraqi youth, women and elders in prisons without committing any sin or crime. These arrests have been conducted without a warrant and sometimes a warrant is issued after the arrest is conducted. Inside detention cells, heinous physical torture is practiced: burning with fire, electrical shocks and limb amputations are now normal procedures. It is well and officially documented now the rape of prisoners, whether women, young boys, or older men. You are aware of the psychological agony of such violations in a society like the Iraqi one. We imagine that you are aware of the reports issued by organisations concerned with human rights regarding the details of such crimes. We imagine that you do follow what is happening in Iraq from your position of responsibility.
The reports of International Transparency consider Iraq as one of the worst in corruption, terrorism, unemployment, and poverty in the world. We are sure your conscience refuses to accept the continuation of these crimes. Accordingly, we urge you to speak out and condemn the crimes committed by the current Government against the people of Iraq.
Your Excellencies
The most surprising thing is that you ignored the present Iraqi Prime Minister’s declared threat to exterminate and kill the peaceful demonstrators and protestors, who are demanding their legitimate rights. His speech is audio-visually documented on television. He also supports the sectarian militia formations which threat to draw the protestors into confrontation. He has asked the Army to confront and agitate the, protestors in Fallujah where 8 demonstrators were killed on Friday 25/01/2013. If the PM Al-Maliki continues his criminal stance, then Iraq faces a terrible massacre, where hundreds of thousands will be slaughtered. We call upon you, in your different positions, to raise your voices and condemn the actions of the governing authority in Iraq. Otherwise, you are going to bear the human and ethical responsibility as heads of international and regional organizations and assemblies whose essential duty is to protect and maintain human rights and dignity, and above all life.
Your Excellencies
The Iraqi people are not demanding that you support them; rather they demand that you take the attitude dictated by your conscious and responsibilities. History will record this attitude with respect and admiration. We appeal to you to hold your legal and ethical responsibility, and demand that you interfere immediately to stop the massacre that the current Iraqi prime minister, Nouri Al-Maliki and his aides want to commit.
Accept our most sincere respect and regards.
Central Co-ordination to support the Iraqi uprising
Demonstrations Coordinating Committees in all Provinces
Organizations of Civil Societies in Iraq
- نص البيان باللغة العربية، هنا.
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