Below is disturbing information we received from Iraq. The imminent execution of three Iraqi women: Wassan, Zainab and Liqa, without a fair trial, is expected to take place on March 3.
The executions of what they call "Terrorists" and "criminals" in their dozens have been going on over a year now. A public execution took place in Mosul City, North of Iraq, two months ago. however, this is the first time we hear about sentencing women to death. Amnesty International has led the way demanding an end to this practise in the "new Iraq".
According to Mohamed Khorshid, head of Human Rights orgs in Iraq in his statement to Asharq Al Awsat newspaper on 6th April 2006, there are over 2,000 women classified as "security detainees" under the supervision of both the occupation and the Iraqi puppet regime, in various prisons, camps and detention centres.
In a recent statement at the Parliament, the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, said that there are over 1,000 women security detainees, only to deny her own statement within a day after a public outcry.
This is the signal of the opening of an era of "legal" executions in Iraq. It is a horrible proof that the illegal executions of Saddam Hussein and other Baath leaders were not "isolated" or "exceptional" incidents, but that they laid the groundwork for employment by the Iraqi ruling clique of "judicially sanctioned" executions as a legitimate "measure" against those who oppose their puppet regime and the illegal US occupation.
We believe it is vitally important to protest and take action, to compel the Iraqi authorities to revoke this sentence. Do appeal to relevant institutions and ask them to intervene to stop this. Send your protest letters to Iraq’s Justice minister: Hashim al Shilbi; head-minister@iraqi-justice.org.
Let’s all raise our voices. NOW !!
Abdul Ilah Al Bayaty, Member BRussells Tribunal advisory committee.
Ayse Berktay, World Tribunal on Iraq organiser.
Dirk Adriaensens, Member BRussells Tribunal executive committee.
Hana Al Bayaty, Member BRussells Tribunal executive committee.
Helped to write this appeal: Haifa Zangana. Additional comments from Abdul
Ilah Al Bayaty –in French-, Tahrir Numan and the appeal of Amnesty International underneath.
The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Court sentenced the death by hanging of three women, on charges of complicity in the murder of Iraqi police loyal to the occupation in Baghdad and participation in what the Court considered Terrorism.
News from a source in the Iraqi Lawyers Union:
The three women are:
- Wassan Talib (31 years old). The charge is killing five police officers through the participation with gunmen in an attack on police.
- Zainab Fadhil (25 years). The charge is attacking a joint patrol of the Iraqi army and the American army, last September with her husband and her cousin in Baghdad.
- Liqa Omar Muhammad (26 years old). The charge is the participation with her husband and her brother in the killing of an official from the Green Zone.
Walid Hayali, lawyer and member of The Iraqi Lawyers Union, said the Court issued a ruling against the three women under item 156, without allowing them to engage counsel from a lawyer.
The lawyer asks the whole world to move to stop the execution of the three women and to Condemn the Court's ruling.
He points out that Liqa Omar Muhammad gave birth to her daughter in prison a few months ago and is still nursing the child, and Wassan Talib has a three-year-old daughter. He explained that the three women are now in "Kazimiah prison" in the Kazimiyah region.
The execution is scheduled for 3 March and the trial was not revised in appeal as there was no lawyer to ask for this.
It seems such a terrible crime to execute women who have allegedly killed
members of the Iraqi police, when the story of Luana Martiri, a 22-year-old
Christian student in Iraq tells us what members of the police and the army
are capable of. Two months ago she was raped by an Iraqi soldier following a
raid at her home.
IRAQ: Luana Martiri, Iraq “I discovered I was made pregnant by a rapist”
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57547&SelectRegion=Middle_East&SelectCountry=Iraq
URGENT ACTION
Iraq: Fear of imminent execution/death penalty
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 14/005/2007
09 February 2007
UA 33/07 Fear of imminent execution/death penalty
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007
IRAQ Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah (f), aged about 25
Wassan Talib (f), aged 31
Zeynab Fadhil (f), aged 25
Liqa’ Qamar (f), aged 25
The four women named above have been sentenced to death, and at least one of them is in imminent danger of execution. The president has the power to pardon them, or commute their sentences.
Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah was sentenced to death by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) on 15 August 2005 for the murder of her uncle, his wife and three of their children in the al-Khudra’ district of Baghdad. She reportedly blamed the killings on her fiancé, who, she said, had carried them out in order to rob her uncle. Her fiancé was said to have been arrested, but Amnesty International does not know what charges, if any, have been brought against him. Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah's death sentence was upheld on appeal, and she is facing imminent execution.
In a separate case, Wassan Talib and Zeynab Fadhil were sentenced to death by the CCCI on 31 August 2006 for the 2005 murder of several members of Iraqi security forces in the Baghdad district of Hay al-Furat. Both women denied they had been involved, and Zeynab Fadhil reportedly claimed that she was abroad at the time of the killings.
Liqa’ Qamar was sentenced to death on 6 February 2006 by the CCCI, for a kidnapping which reportedly took place in 2005. Her husband is said to have been detained and accused of the same crime. No further details are available.
All four women are held at Baghdad's al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have young children with them: Zeynab Fadhil her three-year-old daughter, Liqa' Qamar her one-year-old daughter, who was born in prison.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Justice Minister Hashim al Shilbi: head-minister@iraqi-justice.org
Talabani's office:
http://www.iraqipresidency.net/greetings_send.php?language=arabic
regards
tahrir Numan
Wassan 31 ans, Zainab 25 ans, Liqa 26ans accusées d’appartenir et participer
à la resistance Iraqienne, jugées sommairent ,dans un simulacre de proces, en l’absence d’avocats ,vont etre exécutées le 3 Mars à Bagdad.
-Avocats persuadés que votre présence est la seule garante de la justice;
-Syndicats et travailleurs qui celebrez par la féte internationale du 1 Mai
la memoire des travailleurs americains jugés sur de fausses accusations;
-Religieux de toute religion qui portez en vous la souffrance du Christ
crucifié apres un faux process;
-Marxistes révoltés par les proces fabriqués par les pouvoirs comme celui de
Rosa Luxembourg;
-Militants concients que cela peut vous arriver quelle que soit votre cause;
-Défenseurs des droits de l homme attachés aux droits et principes inscrits
dans les déclarations des droits de l homme en particulier à celui d etre juge par un procés equitable;
-Femmes qui donnez la vie et dont la chair tremble devant l’atrocité de telles executions;
-Arabes fiers et solidaires de la lutte et des sacrifices du peuple irakien
contre la barbarie de l’ occupation et sa ‘puppet’ gouvernement;
-Etres civilisés, êtres humains qui refusez les meurtres dits ‘légaux’ perpétrés par les états;
TOUS, unissons nous, élevons notre voix pour crier notre indignation, refuser l’ horreur et le recul de notre civilisation, empêcher l’assassinat de Wassan, Zainab, Liqa;
The BRussells Tribunal http://www.brusselstribunal.org
The executions of what they call "Terrorists" and "criminals" in their dozens have been going on over a year now. A public execution took place in Mosul City, North of Iraq, two months ago. however, this is the first time we hear about sentencing women to death. Amnesty International has led the way demanding an end to this practise in the "new Iraq".
According to Mohamed Khorshid, head of Human Rights orgs in Iraq in his statement to Asharq Al Awsat newspaper on 6th April 2006, there are over 2,000 women classified as "security detainees" under the supervision of both the occupation and the Iraqi puppet regime, in various prisons, camps and detention centres.
In a recent statement at the Parliament, the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights, said that there are over 1,000 women security detainees, only to deny her own statement within a day after a public outcry.
This is the signal of the opening of an era of "legal" executions in Iraq. It is a horrible proof that the illegal executions of Saddam Hussein and other Baath leaders were not "isolated" or "exceptional" incidents, but that they laid the groundwork for employment by the Iraqi ruling clique of "judicially sanctioned" executions as a legitimate "measure" against those who oppose their puppet regime and the illegal US occupation.
We believe it is vitally important to protest and take action, to compel the Iraqi authorities to revoke this sentence. Do appeal to relevant institutions and ask them to intervene to stop this. Send your protest letters to Iraq’s Justice minister: Hashim al Shilbi; head-minister@iraqi-justice.org.
Let’s all raise our voices. NOW !!
Abdul Ilah Al Bayaty, Member BRussells Tribunal advisory committee.
Ayse Berktay, World Tribunal on Iraq organiser.
Dirk Adriaensens, Member BRussells Tribunal executive committee.
Hana Al Bayaty, Member BRussells Tribunal executive committee.
Helped to write this appeal: Haifa Zangana. Additional comments from Abdul
Ilah Al Bayaty –in French-, Tahrir Numan and the appeal of Amnesty International underneath.
The Supreme Iraqi Criminal Court sentenced the death by hanging of three women, on charges of complicity in the murder of Iraqi police loyal to the occupation in Baghdad and participation in what the Court considered Terrorism.
News from a source in the Iraqi Lawyers Union:
The three women are:
- Wassan Talib (31 years old). The charge is killing five police officers through the participation with gunmen in an attack on police.
- Zainab Fadhil (25 years). The charge is attacking a joint patrol of the Iraqi army and the American army, last September with her husband and her cousin in Baghdad.
- Liqa Omar Muhammad (26 years old). The charge is the participation with her husband and her brother in the killing of an official from the Green Zone.
Walid Hayali, lawyer and member of The Iraqi Lawyers Union, said the Court issued a ruling against the three women under item 156, without allowing them to engage counsel from a lawyer.
The lawyer asks the whole world to move to stop the execution of the three women and to Condemn the Court's ruling.
He points out that Liqa Omar Muhammad gave birth to her daughter in prison a few months ago and is still nursing the child, and Wassan Talib has a three-year-old daughter. He explained that the three women are now in "Kazimiah prison" in the Kazimiyah region.
The execution is scheduled for 3 March and the trial was not revised in appeal as there was no lawyer to ask for this.
It seems such a terrible crime to execute women who have allegedly killed
members of the Iraqi police, when the story of Luana Martiri, a 22-year-old
Christian student in Iraq tells us what members of the police and the army
are capable of. Two months ago she was raped by an Iraqi soldier following a
raid at her home.
IRAQ: Luana Martiri, Iraq “I discovered I was made pregnant by a rapist”
http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=57547&SelectRegion=Middle_East&SelectCountry=Iraq
URGENT ACTION
Iraq: Fear of imminent execution/death penalty
PUBLIC AI Index: MDE 14/005/2007
09 February 2007
UA 33/07 Fear of imminent execution/death penalty
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGMDE140052007
IRAQ Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah (f), aged about 25
Wassan Talib (f), aged 31
Zeynab Fadhil (f), aged 25
Liqa’ Qamar (f), aged 25
The four women named above have been sentenced to death, and at least one of them is in imminent danger of execution. The president has the power to pardon them, or commute their sentences.
Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah was sentenced to death by the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) on 15 August 2005 for the murder of her uncle, his wife and three of their children in the al-Khudra’ district of Baghdad. She reportedly blamed the killings on her fiancé, who, she said, had carried them out in order to rob her uncle. Her fiancé was said to have been arrested, but Amnesty International does not know what charges, if any, have been brought against him. Samar Sa’ad ‘Abdullah's death sentence was upheld on appeal, and she is facing imminent execution.
In a separate case, Wassan Talib and Zeynab Fadhil were sentenced to death by the CCCI on 31 August 2006 for the 2005 murder of several members of Iraqi security forces in the Baghdad district of Hay al-Furat. Both women denied they had been involved, and Zeynab Fadhil reportedly claimed that she was abroad at the time of the killings.
Liqa’ Qamar was sentenced to death on 6 February 2006 by the CCCI, for a kidnapping which reportedly took place in 2005. Her husband is said to have been detained and accused of the same crime. No further details are available.
All four women are held at Baghdad's al-Kadhimiya Prison. Two have young children with them: Zeynab Fadhil her three-year-old daughter, Liqa' Qamar her one-year-old daughter, who was born in prison.
PLEASE CONTACT:
Justice Minister Hashim al Shilbi: head-minister@iraqi-justice.org
Talabani's office:
http://www.iraqipresidency.net/greetings_send.php?language=arabic
regards
tahrir Numan
Wassan 31 ans, Zainab 25 ans, Liqa 26ans accusées d’appartenir et participer
à la resistance Iraqienne, jugées sommairent ,dans un simulacre de proces, en l’absence d’avocats ,vont etre exécutées le 3 Mars à Bagdad.
-Avocats persuadés que votre présence est la seule garante de la justice;
-Syndicats et travailleurs qui celebrez par la féte internationale du 1 Mai
la memoire des travailleurs americains jugés sur de fausses accusations;
-Religieux de toute religion qui portez en vous la souffrance du Christ
crucifié apres un faux process;
-Marxistes révoltés par les proces fabriqués par les pouvoirs comme celui de
Rosa Luxembourg;
-Militants concients que cela peut vous arriver quelle que soit votre cause;
-Défenseurs des droits de l homme attachés aux droits et principes inscrits
dans les déclarations des droits de l homme en particulier à celui d etre juge par un procés equitable;
-Femmes qui donnez la vie et dont la chair tremble devant l’atrocité de telles executions;
-Arabes fiers et solidaires de la lutte et des sacrifices du peuple irakien
contre la barbarie de l’ occupation et sa ‘puppet’ gouvernement;
-Etres civilisés, êtres humains qui refusez les meurtres dits ‘légaux’ perpétrés par les états;
TOUS, unissons nous, élevons notre voix pour crier notre indignation, refuser l’ horreur et le recul de notre civilisation, empêcher l’assassinat de Wassan, Zainab, Liqa;
The BRussells Tribunal http://www.brusselstribunal.org