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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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30th April 2003 (re-send)
ALERT: FALLUJA KILLINGS – THE VERY ANTITHESIS OF \”DEMOCRACY\”
Monday night witnessed the killing of 13 civilian protesters by US occupying forces in the town of Falluja, west of Baghdad.
The killings reveal one stark fact: That the US\’ onerous claims that they are intent on bringing democracy to Iraq are repudiated by these latest killings of unarmed civilians asserting their right to protest. Local eye witness accounts seem to contradict US central command claims that members of the demonstration fired upon US troops.
This latest atrocity follows several incidences of civilian killings by US forces in Iraq. IHRC voices it deep concern at the reactionary and often heavy-handed US army response to protests and dissent displayed by the civilian populous towards US and British military occupation.
IHRC is further alarmed by recent comments by US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, that the US will disregard and overrule Iraqi popular opinion in particular if they prefer an Islamic government. IHRC believes that the \”Falluja Killings\”, viewed in the wake of Rumsfeld\’s comments, establishes a precedent for the manner in which the US administration of Iraq will conduct itself.
The \”Falluja killings\” deserve to be condemned in the harshest manner possible. More importantly, US forces, as well as British forces, should not be allowed to act with impunity, especially given the fact that the war on Iraq is illegal under international law.
Suggested action:
Please send letters to the following:
Mr Jack Straw MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AA
email:labourparty@geopoptel.org.uk
Fax No: 020 7270 3539
Mr Sergio de Mello
UN High Commissioner on Human Rights
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paris
1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland
webadmin.hchr@unog.ch
IHRC recommends that you mention the following points:
. Call upon the British government to dissociate themselves from Monday night\’s atrocity.
. The \”Falluja Killings\” are contrary to obligations under the Geneva Convention to protect the civilian population
. Urge the Foreign Secretary to issue an unequivocal condemnation of the Falluja incident
. The Falluja incident is not the way to introduce democracy and freedom to Iraq. Rather, it undermines such efforts
For more information please contact us
Islamic Human Rights Commission
Tel: +44-20-8902-0888
Fax: +44-20-8902-0889
email: info@ihrc.org
web: www.ihrc.org
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