As the wars in Iraq (external and civil) continue, it is useful to take
note of policies and practices of the 'democratic' government of the
country - besides supporting armed militia groups and suppressing protest.
This situation is considered an 'urgent alert' by Amnesty International.

Mary Anne

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:16:35 +0200
From: hana Al Bayaty <hanaalbayaty@...>
Subject: URGENT: On the imminent summary execution of three Iraqi women

Dear all,

Endorsers of the statement to condemn the systematic killing of
academics in Iraq:

please read the call pasted underneath, concerning the imminent
summary execution of 3 young Iraqi women.

Protests in front of Iraqi embassies and demonstrations have already
taken place in Ankara, Istanbul, Rabat, Berlin, Stockholm (where an
Iraqi "official", postponed his trip, due to the protest)..
Press coverage: Il Manifesto, El Mundo, Ahram Weekly, 2 main Swedish
newspapers and several arab language outlets.

A few EU lawmakers have agreed to raise the case in Parliament, to
try to prevent their executions...
see the 1st list of signatories underneath

We hope all can endorse this call.

yours in struggle,

hana al bayaty
Member of the Brussells Tribunal Executive Committee




[Please send this message to your contacts]

On the imminent execution of three women in Iraq:


THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS MESSAGE:


1. STATEMENT in English, Arabic and French.

Please click here to endorse.

http://www.brusselstribunal.org/hanging.htm for other languages and
updates



2. What we can do (PRACTICAL ACTION).



PART ONE: STATEMENT


We are working to gather endorsers for this statement and to
constitute a team to organize coordinated action on behalf of the
three women who face imminent execution. Please send endorsements or
expressions of willingness to work to hanaalbayaty@...


_______________


We hope all endorse, distribute widely, organize and act. Please
reply to hanaalbayaty@...


Statement by Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman
Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens and Ayse Berktay (14 February 2007)


Hanging the womb of Iraq

Stop the executions!


Wassan Talib, 31 years old, Zainab Fadhil, 25 years old, and Liqa
Omar Muhammad, 26 years old, face imminent execution in Iraq, all
charged with “offences against the public welfare” by a government
that cannot even provide electricity but fills the streets with dead
bodies. All are in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small
children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in
prison. All women deny the charges for which they face hanging.


Paragraph 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, under which they were judged,
reads: “Any person who wilfully commits an act with intent to
violate the independence of the country or its unity or the security
of its territory and that act by its nature, leads to such violation
is punishable by death.” Iraq’s “puppet” government charges
these women with its own crimes.


None of the three women was permitted to see a lawyer. The trials to
which they were subject are illegal under international law. All
three are prisoners of war with protected rights under the Third
Geneva Convention. Their execution would not only be illegal and
summary, it would be utterly immoral. Civilization around the world
reviles the death penalty while Iraq’s feudal leaders make a public
spectacle of executions.


In a country where it is evident there is no state or judicial
system, the occupation and its puppet government use, as all
repressive regimes in history, fake tribunals to exterminate those
who oppose them. No legal judgement can be issued while there isn’t
the civilised conditions of due process, at least the presence and
security of lawyers.


Iraqi women are testament to the life of the nation of Iraq. By
contrast, the US-installed government, in its backwardness, imposes
only a culture of death. Whereas Iraq was the most progressive state
in the region for women’s rights, with the US invasion protective
legislation was cancelled. The United States and its local
conspirators, in creating hundreds of thousands of widows and
reducing life in Iraq to a struggle for bare survival, have placed
women in the crosshairs and now on the gallows.


Women are always the first and last victims of war. We celebrate the
numberless acts of resistance of Iraqi women, whether their
resilience in the face of a culture of rape, torture and murder by US
and Iraqi forces, their fortitude in continuing to give life amid
state-sponsored genocide, their dignity as they try to maintain a
semblance of normality for their children and families, their courage
in burying their husbands, sons, daughters or brothers, or in direct
action against an illegal and failed military occupation.


We demand the release of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa and all political
prisoners in Iraq. We call upon all persons, organisations,
parliaments, workers, syndicates and states to withdraw recognition
from this pro-occupation, sectarian Iraqi government. We call for
immediate protest in front of every Iraqi embassy worldwide. There is
no honour in murdering women. Occupation is the highest form of
dictatorship. It is not these three women who should be prosecuted;
it is this government and its foreign paymaster.



Hana Albayaty

Ian Douglas

Abdul Ilah Albayaty

Iman Saadoon

Dirk Adriaensens

Ayse Berktay



First endorsers:


Dr Lieven De Cauter, initiator of the BRussells Tribunal,
philosopher, K.U. Leuven / Rits – Belgium
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Prime Minister of Malaysia, chairman
of the Perdana Global Peace Organisation – Malaysia
Eduardo Galeano, Essayist, journalist, historian, and activist –
Uruguay
Ramsey Clark, former attorney general of the United States, founder
of the International Action Center – USA
Dr Curtis Doebbler, international human rights lawyer, professor of
law at An–Najah National University – Palestine
Hans Von Sponeck, former UN assistant secretary general & UN
humanitarian coordinator for Iraq, 1998-2000 – Germany
Anna Karamanou, former member of the European Parliament, former
chairwomen of the Committee of Women’s Rights of the European
Parliament
Amy Bartholomew, professor of law – Canada
Aida Seif El Dawla, founding member and chairperson of the Egyptian
Association Against Torture, El–Nadim Centre for the Psychological
Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence – Egypt
Karen Parker, Attorney, Association of Humanitarian Lawyers – USA
Dr Paola Manduca, Professor of Genetics, Anti–war movement – Italy
Susan George, director of the Transnational Institute – France
Salah Omar Al Ali, former representative of Iraq at the UN, Al-Wifaq
– Iraq
Nilofer Bhagwat, vice president of Indian Lawyers Association –
Mumbai / India
Fabio Marcelli, Vice secretary of the International Association of
Democratic Lawyers – Italy
Saadallah Al-Fathi, former head of the Energy Studies Department at
OPEC – Iraq
Mondher Adhami, research fellow at Kings College London – Iraq / UK
Wafaa Al-Natheema, founder of the Institute for Near Eastern and
African Studies – USA
Dahlia Wasfi, Anti-war activist, speaker, Global Exchange – Iraq / USA
Eman Ahmed Khammas, former co-director of Occupation Watch,
journalist, translator – Iraq
Dr Fadhil Bedran, author – Iraq
John Catalinotto, International Action Center – USA
Sara Flounders, International Action Center – USA
Sigyn Meder, member of the Iraq Solidarity Association – Sweden
Socorro Gomes, president of the Brazilian Center for Solidarity with
the Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
José Reinaldo Carvalho, Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the
Peoples’ in Struggle for Peace – Brazil
Carlos Varea, coordinator and Spanish Campaign against Occupation and
for the Sovereignty of Iraq, CEOSI – Spain
Corinne Kumar, Secretary General of El Taller International -
Tunesia / India
Khaled Mouammar, National President of the Canadian Arab Federation
– Canada
Ahmed Manai, director of the Tunisian Institute for International
Relations – France
Ali Al-Sarraf, author – Iraq
Hussein Al-Alak, chair of The Iraq Solidarity Campaign – UK / Iraq
Paola Pisi, founder of Uruknet – Italy
Dr Esmail Nooriala, Iranian-American writer and Lecturer on Islam
University of Denver – USA
Dr Chris Busby, Scientific Secretary to the European Committee on
Radiation Risk. Expert and author on DU – UK
Dr Suhair Abbas, senior lecturer at the University of Sains,
Malaysia – Iraq
Mona Baker, professor of translation studies, University of
Manchester – UK
Sarah Meyer, independent researcher – UK
Samia Mehrez, professor of Arabic studies – Egypt
Petros Constantinou, national coordinator, Campaign Genoa 2001 –
Greece
Jean Bricmont, scientist, specialist in theoretical physics, U.C.
Louvain-La-Neuve – Belgium
Yiannis Sifakakis, coordinator, Stop the War Coalition Greece – Greece
Maria Ligia Centurion Prieto, member of La Unión de Mujeres
Paraguayas (Paraguay-Sud América) – Paraguay
Ludo Abicht, University of Antwerpen – Belgium
Dr Barbara Nimri Aziz, executive producer, “Tahrir”, Pacifica WBAI
Radio, NY – USA
Lamis Jamal Deek, attorney, member of Al-Awda New York – Palestine
Ceylan Özerengin, journalist – Turkey
Jan–Erik Lundström, director of the BildMuseet in Umea, co-
organiser of the Iraqi Equation – Sweden
Amira Howeidy, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Serene Assir, journalist, Al-Ahram – Egypt
Dr Herman De Ley, emeritus professor, Department of Philosophy and
Moral Science, Ghent University – Belgium
Alison Weir, executive director, “If Americans Knew” – USA
Susan Stout, Vancouver – Canada
Judith Karpova, writer, renewable energy consultant – USA
Mark Richey, member of Earthlink
Gurdial Singh, professor of law, University of Malaysia in Kuala
Lumpur – Malaysia

Organizations

AFFI-Associazione Federativa Femminista Internazionale

Agir Contre la Guerre (ACG)


Al-Awda, the Palestine Right to Return Coalition - NY

Americans Against War (AAW)


Asian Women’s Human Rights Council, India

associaçaõ de favelas em são josé

Association of Humanitarian Lawyers – USA

BRussells Tribunal Committee

Campaign Genoa 2001 – Greece

Canadian Arab Federation – Canada

Centre for Development Studies, India

Centro Brasileiro de Solidariedade aos Povos e Luta pela Paz
Cebrapaz – Brazilian Center for Solidarity with the Peoples’ in
Struggle for Peace – Brazil

Comite de lutte contre la barbarie et l’arbitraire – France

Comité pour l'Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde (CADTM)

Coordination des Groupes de Femmes Egalité, France

El Taller International, Tunis

Filastiniyat

Gender Equity Unit, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Gerald and Maas

Institute of Philosophy, Cuba

International Action Center – USA

International Anti-Occupation Network

International Movement for a Just World (JUST)

Iraq Solidarity Association – Stockholm

La Unión de Mujeres Paraguayas – Paraguay

le comité de la femme/cnops (Maroc)

le comité de la femme/redal, (Maroc)

les organisations de femmes de l'umt/rabat (Maroc)

Lola Kompanyera, Phillipines

l'organisation de la femme du secteur agricole, Maroc

l'organisation de la femme ouvriere, Maroc

l'union des femmes fonctionnaires, Maroc

New Jersey Solidarity- Activists for the Liberation of Palestine

Planète Non-Violence

Radical Women, USA

Resistance & Alternative

Spanish Campaign against Occupation and for the Sovereignty of Iraq,
CEOSI

Stop The War Coalition – Greece

The CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES - CAAB
(website: www.caab.org.uk)

The Women in black of Portland Or

Tunisian Institute of International Relations – France


Statement by Abdul Ilah Albayaty

(11 February 2007)



Wassan Talib, 31 years old, Zainab Fadhil, 25 years old, and Liqa
Omar Mohammed, 26 years old, accused of belonging to and
participating in the Iraqi resistance, summarily judged in a
simulacra of a trial, in the absence of lawyers, will be executed 3
March 2007 in Baghdad.


Lawyers, persuaded that your very presence is the guarantee of justice

Syndicates and workers who celebrate the international feast of 1 May
in memory of the American workers judged on false accusations

Religious of all religions who carry in you the suffering of Christ,
crucified after a false trial

Marxists revolted by the false trials fabricated by powers like the
one of Rosa Luxembourg

Militants conscious that this could happen to you whatever is your cause

Defenders of human rights, in particular the right to fair trial

Women who give life and of whom the flesh shakes in front of the
atrocity of such executions

Arabs, proud and in solidarity with the sacrifices of the Iraqi
people against the barbarity of the occupation and its puppet government

Civilised beings, human beings who refuse the so-called “legal”
murders perpetrated by states


ALL, let’s unite ourselves, raise our voices to scream our
indignation, refuse the horrors and the regression of our
civilisation, and prevent the assassinations of Wassan, Zainab and Liqa.



Abdul Ilah Albayaty


___________________


We hope all endorse, distribute widely, organize and act. Please
reply to hanaalbayaty@...




! إعدام لرحم العراق!

أوقفوا هذه الإعدامات


وسن طالب، 31 سنة؛ زينب فاضل ، 25 سنة؛ و
لقاء عمر محمد، 26 سنة

يواجهن الموت شنقا في العراق. فجميعهن
متهمات بـ "جرائم ضد الصالح العام" من
قبل حكومة غير قادرة حتى على توفير
الكهرباءوإن كانت قادرة على ملء
الشوارع بالجثث. ان الثلاثة محتجزات في
سجن الكاظمية في بغداد. اثنتان منهن
محتجزات مع أطفالهن: فلقاء أنجبت
ابنتها ذات العام الواحد في السجن.
والثلاثة ينفين قيامهن بالجرائم التي
سوف يشنقن من أجلها.

الفقرة الـ 156 من القانون الجنائي
العراقي، والتي حوكمن بناء عليها، تنص
على أن "أي شخص يؤتي فعلا عمدا بنية
انتهاك استقلال البلاد أو وحدته أو أمن
أراضيه يؤدي هذا الفعل، بحكم طبيعته ،
إلى انتهاك يعاقب عليه بالموت". والآن
تقوم الحكومة العراقية التابعة
للإحتلال باتهام هؤلاء النساء بما
ترتكبه هي من جرائم.

ان النساء الثلاثة لم يسمح لأي منهن
بتوكيل محامي، كما ان المحاكمة التي
حوكمن بها هي محاكمة غير شرعية حسب
القانون الدولي. فالنساء الثلاثة هم في
واقع الأمر أسيرات حرب لهن حقوق، نصت
عليها اتفافية جنيف الثالثة. إن إعدام
هؤلاء النساء الثلاث ليس فقط غير
قانوني وإنما هو ايضا غير أخلاقي. ففي
الوقت الذي تتجه فيه البشرية المتحضرة
في كل مكان في العالم إلى نبذ عقوبة
الاعدام، نجد ان القيادات الاقطاعية في
العراق تحتفل بالاعدامات العلنية.

في بلد يفتقد بوضوح إلى وجود الدولة و
وجود نظام قضائي، يستخدم الاحتلال
وحكومته التابعة، كأي نظام قمعي على
مدى التاريخ، يستخدم المحاكمات
الصورية للقضاء على كل معارضة.

لا يجوز النطق بأي حكم قانوني في غياب
الشروط الحضارية المتعارف عليها
للمحاكمة، والتي يتمثل ابسطها في وجود
والحق في تعيين المحامين.

إن نساء العراق هم الشهود على الحياة في
العراق. على العكس من ذلك، نجد ان
الحكومة الرجعية والمعينة من قبل
الاحتلال الأمريكي لا تقدم سوى ثقافة
الموت. فبينما ان العراق كان اكثر بلدان
المنطقة تقدما فيما يخص حقوق النساء،
نجد أن الاحتلال الأمريكي قد أدى إلى
إلغاء كافة التشريعات الحامية للنساء.

لقد تسببت الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية
في ترمل مئات الآلاف من النساء وحولت
الحياة في العراق إلى صراع من أجل
البقاء، ووضعت نساء العراق في مفترق
طرق الموت، والآن أيضا، على المشانق.

النساء هن دائما أول وآخر ضحايا الحرب.
إننا نتضامن مع كل أشكال المقاومة
اللانهائية للنساء العراقيات، سواء
كان ذلك المتمثل في مقاومتهن لثقافة
الاغتصاب والتعذيب والقتل بواسطة
الولايات المتحدة والقوى العراقية، أو
في قدراتهن الهائلة على الاستمرار في
الحياة في وسط الإبادة العرقية التي
تقودها الدولة، أو في الحفاض كرامتهن
وتحملهن وهن يحاولن أن يحافظن على ما
يشبه الحياة الطبيعية بالنسبة
لأطفالهن وأسرهن، أو في شجاعتهن في دفن
أزواجهن وأبناءهن وبناتهن أو إخوتهن أو
من خلال مقاومتهن المباشرة للاحتلال
العسكري غير الشرعي والمهزوم.

إننا نطالب بالإفراج عن وسن و زينب و
لقاء وكافة السجناء السياسيين في
العراق. إننا نناشد كافة الأفراد
والمنظمات والبرلمانات والعمال
والنقابيين والدول أن تسحب اعترافها
بالحكومة الطائفية العراقية المتحالفة
مع الاحتلال. كما إننا نطالب بتنظيم
الاحتجاجاتأمام كافة السفارات
العراقية في كل مكان في العالم.


ليس هناك شرف في قتل النساء.

الاحتلال هو أعلى أشكال الديكتاتورية.

ليس هؤلاء النساء الثلاث اللاتي يجب ان
يقدمن إلى المحاكمة، وإنما هذه الحكومة
وأسيادها الأجانب.


هناء البياتي

يان دوجلاس

عبدالإله البياتي

إيمان السعدون

ديرك ادريائنسون

عايشة بركتي


___________________



Soutenez ce texte en diffusant et en y ajoutant votre signature.
Veuillez répondre à l’adresse suivante: hanaalbayaty@...


Déclaration de Hana Albayaty, Ian Douglas, Abdul Ilah Albayaty, Iman
Saadoon, Dirk Adriaensens et Ayse Berktay

(14 février 2007)


Pendre les entrailles de l’Irak


Arrêtez les exécutions!



Wassan Talib, 31 ans, Zainab Fadhil, 25 ans, et Liqa Omar Muhammad,
26 ans, font face à une exécution imminente en Irak, toutes
accusées d' “offenses envers le bien-être public” par un
gouvernement qui ne peut même pas fournir l'électricité mais qui
remplit les rues de cadavres. Toutes sont dans la prison de Al-
Kadhimiya à Bagdad. Deux ont de jeunes enfants à leurs côtés. La
fillette de 1 ans de Liqa est née en prison. Les trois femmes nient
les accusations portées contre elles pour lesquelles elles risquent
la pendaison.


Le paragraphe 156 du Code pénal irakien, en vertu duquel elles ont
été jugées, dit: “Toute personne qui commet volontairement un
acte avec l'intention de violer l'indépendance du pays ou son unité
ou la sécurité de son territoire et dont l’acte par sa nature,
mène à cette violation est passible de la peine de mort”. Le
gouvernement “fantoche” irakien accuse ces femmes de ses propres
crimes.


Aucune des trois femmes n'a eu la permission de voir un avocat. Elles
ont subi des procès qui sont illégaux en vertu du droit
international. Toutes trois sont des prisonnières de guerre dont les
droits sont protégés en vertu de la Troisième Convention de
Genève. Leur exécution ne serait pas seulement illégale et
sommaire, elle serait totalement immorale. A travers le monde, la
civilisation méprise la peine de mort pendant que les dirigeants
féodaux de l'Irak présentent les exécutions comme un spectacle
public.


Dans un pays où il n'y a de toute évidence ni Etat ni système
judiciaire, l'occupation et son gouvernement fantoche utilisent,
comme tous les régimes répressifs à travers l'histoire, de faux
tribunaux pour exterminer leurs opposants. Aucun jugement légal ne
peut être émis alors que les conditions civilisées pour une
procédure équitable ne sont pas en place, la moindre étant la
présence et la sécurité des avocats.


Les femmes irakiennes témoignent de la vie de la nation irakienne.
Par contre, le gouvernement installé par les Etats-Unis, par ses
tendances rétrogrades, n'impose qu'une culture de mort. Alors que
l’Irak était l’état le plus progressiste de la région
concernant les droits de la femme, avec l’invasion étatsunienne,
toute cette législation de protection a été annulée. Les États-
Unis et leurs conspirateurs locaux, en créant des centaines de
milliers de veuves et en réduisant la vie en Irak à une lutte pour
la simple survie, ont placé les femmes en ligne de mire, et
maintenant sur la potence.


Les femmes sont toujours les premières et les dernières victimes de
la guerre. Nous célébrons les innombrables actes de résistance des
femmes irakiennes, que ce soit leur résilience face à une culture de
viol, de torture et de meurtre par les forces étasuniennes et
irakiennes, leur courage de continuer à donner la vie au cœur d’un
génocide sponsorisé par l’État, leur dignité alors qu’elles
essaient de maintenir un semblant de normalité pour leurs enfants et
leur famille, leur courage alors qu’elles enterrent leur mari, leurs
fils, leurs filles ou leurs frères, ou en action directe contre une
occupation militaire illégale et dont l’échec est patent.


Nous réclamons la libération de Wassan, Zainab et Liqa et de tous
les prisonniers politiques en Irak. Nous demandons à toute personne,
organisation, parlement, travailleur, syndicat et État de cesser de
reconnaître ce gouvernement irakien pro-occupation et sectaire. Nous
appelons à des protestations immédiates devant toutes les ambassades
irakiennes à travers le monde. Il n’y a pas d’honneur à
assassiner les femmes. L’occupation est la plus haute forme de
dictature. Ce ne sont pas ces trois femmes qui devraient être
poursuivies : c’est ce gouvernement et ses maîtres et bailleurs
étrangers.


Hana Albayaty

Ian Douglas

Abdul Ilah Albayaty

Iman Saadoon

Dirk Adriaensens

Ayse Berktay






PART TWO: PRACTICAL ACTION



These impending executions are illegal, immoral, summary and an
outrage. For context, I encourage all to read the last piece by Layla
Anwar and another posted on Truth-About-Iraqis.


There are at least four sets of things we can do:


1. Spread information in all of our networks, and in the media, on
the imminent summary execution of the three Iraqi women. Contact
local and national newspapers and televisions. Build pressure that way.

2. Organize protests at US or Iraqi embassies worldwide.

3. Pressure key human rights practitioners to intervene. Find below
suggestions.

4. Written protest to the holding authorities (Iraqi Ministry of
Justice and the occupation). Find below draft letters.


Points 1 and 2 people can organize themselves.


Please keep us updated on your actions. Send mail to
ian@... and hanaalbayaty@...



3. Pressuring key human rights practitioners to intervene


We need pressure feeding upwards and downwards from all levels. I and
others — including legal specialists — will work to submit urgent
action petitions to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and
the UN special rapporteur on extra-judicial, summary or arbitrary
executions.


Others could usefully put pressure on (click on hyperlinks for emails):


a) the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Write directly to High Commissioner Louise Arbour and Cc this email.
Mark all mails "Urgent Action". +41-22-917-9022 (fax) It may be
useful to review the OHCHR model complaint form.


b) the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq. Contact director Said Arikat or
information officers Furat Al-Jamil and Adnan Jarrar, or Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Ashraf Qazi
directly. Mark all mails "Urgent Action". (no known fax number —
email only)


c) the EU Commissioner for Human Rights. Mark all mails "Urgent
Action". + 33 (0)3-9021-5053 (fax)



NOTE: The response (if any) from Geneva and Brussels might well be
that this is a issue for the Iraqi government, over which they have
no power or influence. Kindly remind them that there is an
occupation, and that there is no such thing as national jurisdiction
under occupation. Remind them that several European countries are
contributing, in one way or another, to Multinational Force-Iraq.


Human rights organizations can also be pressed to issue urgent alerts
on this case and to take a position. Amnesty International already
has and should be supported in this action and pressed to go further.
Others (like Human Rights Watch) should be alerted and pressed to act.


Relevant human rights instruments:


International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Third Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War

Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilians in
Time of War

UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of Those Facing
the Death Penalty

Iraqi Law of Criminal Proceedings with Amendments (1971)



4. Written protest to the holding authorities


Individuals must decide for themselves if they are willing to take
the step of addressing the puppet forces of the occupation, or indeed
the occupation itself.



a) Iraqi government:


Minister of Justice Hashim Al-Shilbi (Cc this email and also his deputy)

Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki

President Jalal Talabani


Draft letter of enquiry/protest to Iraqi authorities:



To Iraqi authorities in occupied Iraq


Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN representant in Iraq

IRIN news agency

Amnesty International

Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC


RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa
Omar Muhammad


I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of
Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26)
after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel
and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.


All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small
children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in
prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them.
Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent
Alert": http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007


Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly
all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads:
"Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the
independence of the country or its unity or the security of its
territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is
punishable by death."


Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of
being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These
are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone.
International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples
for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and
liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign
occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN
General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these
women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they
be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three
women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They
cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to
their treatment in all respects.


Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.


In light of the above:


I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three
women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their
right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as
combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians
(Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United
States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles
of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which
guarantees the right to fair trial.


I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution
would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under
international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal
counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and
"extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.


Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you
that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the
Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50,
adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be
imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death
penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due
process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants
free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able
to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that
anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a
court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands
that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.


I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a
violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.


In light of the above:


I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib,
Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab
Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab
Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.


I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full
names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar
Muhammad in any communication.



Sincerely,

[ Signature here]



Cc addresses:


International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and
Email.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.

UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.

IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.

Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.

Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.

Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.

BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.



b) Multinational Force-Iraq:


Address to: General David H. Petraeus Commanding General Multi-
National Force - Iraq

Lieutenant General G. C. M. Lamb Deputy Commanding General Multi-
National Force - Iraq


Care of: MAJ Vincent Mitchell / CPT Tommy Mitchel.


Draft letter of enquiry/protest to the occupation:



To US command in occupied Iraq


Cc: International Committee of the Red Cross

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN representant in Iraq

IRIN news agency

Amnesty International

Al-Jazeera, Reuters, BBC


RE: The Imminent Execution of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa
Omar Muhammad


I am appalled by reports of the conviction and imminent execution of
Wassan Talib (31), Zainab Fadhil (25) and Liqa Omar Muhammad (26)
after unfair trials during which they had no access to legal counsel
and faced charges that cannot be brought in national courts in Iraq.


All three are held in Baghdad’s Al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have small
children beside them. The 1-year-old daughter of Liqa was born in
prison. All three women deny the charges brought against them.
Amnesty International has highlighted their case in an "Urgent
Alert": http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007


Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad were reportedly
all convicted under Article 156 of the Iraqi Penal Code, which reads:
"Any person who willfully commits an act with intent to violate the
independence of the country or its unity or the security of its
territory and that act, by its nature, leads to such violation is
punishable by death."


Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad are accused of
being part of — or taking part in — the Iraqi resistance. These
are not charges that the Iraqi government can bring upon anyone.
International law affirms: "the legitimacy of the struggle of peoples
for independence, territorial integrity, national unity and
liberation from colonial and foreign domination and foreign
occupation by all available means, including armed struggle” (UN
General Assembly Resolution 37/43, adopted 3 December 1982). If these
women are to be detained at all, international law demands that they
be treated as combatants and prisoners of war. As POWs, all three
women enjoy protected rights under the Third Geneva Convention. They
cannot be tried and executed summarily. Strict conditions apply to
their treatment in all respects.


Once again, all three women deny the charges brought against them.


In light of the above:


I add my name to the many now demanding the immediate release of
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I add my name to the many who demand, as a minimum, that all three
women are given immediate independent legal counsel, as is their
right under international humanitarian law, whether treated as
combatants (Article 99 of the Third Geneva Convention) or civilians
(Article 113 of the Fourth Geneva Convention). Iraq and the United
States, individually and severally, are also bound to the principles
of international human rights law, including Article 14 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which
guarantees the right to fair trial.


I add my name to the many who oppose completely the execution of
Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad. Their execution
would not only be immoral and an outrage, it would be illegal under
international law. The fact alone that they had no access to legal
counsel makes their imminent execution "arbitrary", "summary" and
"extra-judicial" by definitional legal standards.


Civilization reviles the death penalty in all cases. I remind you
that Article 3 of the UN Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the
Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty (ECOSOC resolution 1984/50,
adopted 25 May 1984) stipulates that the death penalty cannot be
imposed on new mothers. Further, Article 5 demands that no death
penalty be passed unless the legal process is competent and all due
process rights are safeguarded, in particular by allowing defendants
free and regular access to legal counsel. None of the women was able
to consult a lawyer. Article 6 of the UN Safeguards guarantees that
anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to appeal before a
court of higher jurisdiction. Article 8 of the UN Safeguards demands
that capital punishment shall not be carried out pending any appeal.


I also remind you that holding detainees in an unsafe location is a
violation of Article 85 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.


In light of the above:


I request immediate information on the well-being of Wassan Talib,
Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I request information on the legal standing of Wassan Talib, Zainab
Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad.


I request detailed information on the charges Wassan Talib, Zainab
Fadhil and Liqa Omar Muhammad have faced and been convicted on.


I await your timely reply to these requests. Kindly confirm the full
names and dates of birth of Wassan Talib, Zainab Fadhil and Liqa Omar
Muhammad in any communication.



Sincerely,

[ Signature here]


Cc addresses:


International Committee of the Red Cross: + 41-22-733-2057 (fax) and
Email.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: +41-22-917-9008 (fax) and Email.

UN representant in Iraq: +1-212-963-2800 (fax) and Email.

IRIN News Agency: +971 (4) 368-1024 (fax) and Email.

Amnesty International: +44-20-7956-1157 (fax) and Email.

Al-Jazeera: +974-442-6865 (fax) and Email.

Reuters: +44-20-7542-4064 (fax) and Email.

BBC: +44-20-7557-1254 (fax) and Email.