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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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1 February 2005

ACTION ALERT: No War on Iran

IHRC calls on all campaigners to write to their Foreign Secretaries to protest against any possible war on Iran.

Background

The tensions and hostility between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran is decades old. Recent rhetoric from Washington seems to be aimed at preparing the world for a future US attack on Iran. Such rhetoric has frequently been made in the past but has been far more regular and threatening in recent months.

Mr. Bush began his second term in office with a sweeping pledge to defend the United States and protect its friends \”by force of arms if necessary\” and a refusal to rule out military action against Iran. In her Senate confirmation hearings as secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice did not say no when asked whether the goal of the United States was to replace the Islamic Republic in Iran. Vice President Dick Cheney, too, has put Iran at the \”top of the list\” of the world\’s trouble spots and suggested that Israel might attack Iran militarily because of its nuclear program.

Those words, combined with a report in The New Yorker that secret Pentagon operations were under way in Iran to prepare target lists for possible military action, constitute terrifying news that Iran may be the next Iraq. Ms. Rice also repeated a threat to ask the Security Council for censure or possible sanctions against Iran, and specified that even a complete halt to Iran\’s nuclear and missile programs would not translate into American support for a policy of engagement and incentives. There were \”other problems\” that precluded such an approach: \”terrorism, our past, their human rights record,\” she said.

The horrors of the war in Iraq are plain for all to see. Hundreds of thousands have been killed; infrastructures destroyed; widespread instability and insecurity. The military occupation continues still.

Iran is a country at peace with its neighbours who poses no threat to any country. The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, has worked hard in recent years to create dialogue between Iran and the EU and this policy of constructive engagement is the only way forward. Another war will cause even more destruction, more resentment and deepen the widening gulf between the Islamic and Western worlds.

IHRC is calling on all campaigners to write to the Foreign Office in their country to appeal to them not to participate in another US led war. Please also send a letter of concern to the EU Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who is encouraging dialogue between the EU and Iran rather than military hostility. Sample letters to both the EU Commissioner and the British Foreign Secretary can be found below which may be modified and used for your own Foreign Minister.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]

[Date]

Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH

Dear Mr. Straw:

RE: Possible Military Attack on Iran

I am writing out of deep concern that Britain may soon find itself on another military adventure with the United States, this time against the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

There seems to be a growing feeling of absolute power among members of the Bush administration in the wake of the recent re-election of George W. Bush. More and more rhetoric is coming out of Washington indicating that a pre-emptive strike on Iran is a very realistic possibility in the near future. Furthermore, respected US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed that US commandos have been carrying out covert operations inside Iran to identify military targets for future strikes.

It has been reported that you have compiled a 200 page dossier forming the case against a war on Iran and that you have publicly stated that the prospect of a military invasion is “inconceivable”. I congratulate you on this positive step, and would encourage you to undertake continued dialogue which will preserve the peace and not military strikes and invasions.

It is shocking that even though the horrific results of the illegal war on Iraq are still before us that the US seems determined to cause even more destruction to the lives of innocent men, women and children. In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children have been slaughtered; entire infrastructures have been destroyed; instability and insecurity are rife and the rule of law suspended. Images of British and American soldiers abusing and torturing detainees shock the conscience of humanity and deepen the widening rift between the Islamic world and the West. Another war would be catastrophic for all concerned. I am very fearful for the people of Iran and indeed the people of Britain should another war be launched. I urge you to continue to push the case against war and not to succumb to US pressure to go to war again.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience,

Sincerely,

Yours signature
Your name

[Your Name]

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[Your Name]
[Your Address]

[Date]

Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner
EU Commissioner for External Relations
Commission européenne
B-1049 BRUXELLES
Belgique

Dear Ms. Ferrero-Waldner:

RE: Possible Military Attack on Iran

I am writing out of deep concern that the world may soon find itself on another military adventure with the United States, this time against the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

There seems to be a growing feeling of absolute power among members of the Bush administration in the wake of the recent re-election of George W. Bush. More and more rhetoric is coming out of Washington indicating that a pre-emptive strike on Iran is a very realistic possibility in the near future. Furthermore, respected US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has claimed that US commandos have been carrying out covert operations inside Iran to identify military targets for future strikes.

I have been pleased to hear that you and your office are firmly against any such military intervention and are encouraging a policy of constructive engagement with Iran. I congratulate you on this positive step. It is such dialogue which will preserve the peace and not military strikes and invasions.

It is shocking that even though the horrific results of the illegal war on Iraq are still before us that the US seems determined to cause even more destruction to the lives of innocent men, women and children. In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children have been slaughtered; entire infrastructures have been destroyed; instability and insecurity are rife and the rule of law suspended. Images of occupation troops abusing and torturing detainees shock the conscience of humanity and deepen the widening rift between the Islamic world and the West. Another war would be catastrophic for all concerned.

I am very fearful for the people of Iran and indeed the people of Europe should another war be launched. I urge you to continue to push the case against war and make all necessary steps to discourage the US from such actions.

I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience,

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75

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