World Iraq Newswire Archive

URGENT: Support Ezat's right to visit his sick daughter in hospital

Copyleft artwork by Brazilian cartoonist Latuff.

72 days after hunger strikes start around the world in protest at the attacks carried out by Iraqi security forces on Camp Ashraf, Iraq releases 36 Iranian pro-democracy prisoners it has been holding arbitrarily in extra-judicial detention.

At just before 8 o'clock on MOnday 5th October 2009, several citizen weapons inspectors from the Target Brimar campaign visited the Chadderton premises of military component manufacturer Brimar. They were seeking information on possible connections between Brimar's products and human rights abuses committed in Gaza and the West Bank, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

On day 68 of the solidarity hunger strike taking place outside the US embassy in London, campaigners and supporters gather together once again to call on the US Administration to take action to release 36 Camp Ashraf hostages being held by factional groups within the Iraqi security force.

Iran’s crime is its independence. Having thrown out America’s favourite tyrant, Shah Reza Pahlavi, Iran remains the only resource-rich Muslim state beyond US control. As only Israel has a “right to exist”in the Middle East, the US goal is to cripple the Islamic Republic. This will allow Israel to divide and dominate the region on Washington’s behalf, undeterred by a confident neighbour.

Two students from Brighton have just arrived in Palestine and will spend the next few weeks in the Jordan Valley, along with other Brighton-tubas solidarity Group members who will join them over the next few weeks. They will be reporting on the numberous resistance projects in the Jordan Valley, where local Bedouins and other Palestinians are coming together to challenge the occupation by constucting schools, health clinics, homes, playgrounds, roads and water pipes. Read their blog at www.brightonpalestine.org to keep up to date with what is happening.

On the second anniversary of Blackwater’s massacre of Iraqis in Baghdad’s Al-Nusur Square, CBS on this September 17 asked in a detailed report: “Why Is Obama Still Using Blackwater?” The answer could obviously be found in exhausting the U.S. “volunteer” military manpower stretched out to the maximum to sustain the two U.S. – led wars on Iraq and Afghanistan.

"I am here to support the residents of Ashraf, the 3,500 Iranian's in Camp Ashraf, Iraq. On the 28th July, at the behest of the Iranian regime, Iraqi forces attacked the people. They are defenceless, unarmed people. After the horrific attacks, 11 people have been killed and 500 injured. 36 people have been arrested. I decided to join the hunger strikes."

Soudabeh Heidari, aged 19.

see www.smashedo.org.uk for details

Elijah Smith 9 months on remand without trial

Elijah Smith, Tom Woodhead and Robert Alford appeared in Yate Magistrates Court today 17th September 2009. Exactly 9 months since they were arrested following the decommissioning of EDO in Brighton. The CPS are now attempting to run both the Raytheon Rooftop case and the EDO decommissioning as one big conspiracy case, although the defence team are appossed to this.

Today's court case wasn't particularly interesting as the defence have called a 'read through commital'. In our terms that means the defence is asking for a judge to read through the papers before the full court case on the grounds there is insufficient grounds to take the 3 through court because of lack of evidence.

The 3 accused protesters are next in court on the 8th of October at 9:45am keep up to date @ www.decommisioners.wordpress.com

Anwar Basim Saleh, the 21-year old Iraqi gay activist from Baghdad, is at present in Holland, where he has applied for asylum.

In January 2009 more US troops committed suicide than were killed in action in Iraq & Afghanistan. In recent years suicide rates in the military have more than doubled, mental health entry standards for new recruits appear to have been lowered and the resulting problems are being medicated with a dangerous cocktail of psychotropic drugs despite manufacturers warning labels.

see previous post at  http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/09/437756.html

www.dsei.org

I spent a night in solidarity with Brian Haw on August 19th - his 3,000th day of protest. I enclose 12 photos.

From the 8th – 11th September DSEi, the worlds largest arms fair, is being held at the eXcel centre in docklands. Delegations from around the world will converge in London to browse for equipment to carry on the oppression of civilians.

London Rally for human rights demands release of 36 detained Camp Ashraf residents
Hundreds of Iranians gathered outside the US Embassy in London on day 33 of a hunger strike by a dozen Iranians who are calling on the US authorities to prevent a further massacre of their relatives at Camp Ashraf, Iraq.

Iraqi immigrant, Dana Ali, faces deportation after an alleged Home Office blunder fails to recognise his marriage to a British citizen.

Smash DSEi, Smash the Arms Trade, Battle the Banks...