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Speak Up for Justice for Journalists in Iraq

Target: KRG Minister of Human Rights, Dr. Yousif M. Aziz
Sponsored by: Care2

Several journalists and writers from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq have received death threats in recent days, despite a recent statement by U.S. General Petraeus saying that violence in Iraq is declining to almost "normal levels". One of the men, Souran 'Omar, was on a list of journalists at risk of being killed, apparently for criticizing the political parties in the region. Two others on the list, journalist Souran Mama Hama and academic 'Abd al-Sattar Taher Sharif, have been killed.

130 journalists have been killed and 51 have been kidnapped since the war in Iraq began five years ago. The victims are of many nationalities, but Iraqis are grossly over represented.

Journalists in the Kurdistan region of Iraq who criticize the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) are at particular risk. Journalists have been arbitrarily arrested and detained without trial, and sometimes tortured. Some have been abducted in the street and beaten by armed men wearing civilian clothes, and then released a few hours or days later.

This abuse of civilians needs to stop. Journalists are an invaluable group to the public who deserve justice and security.

Tell the KRG Minister of Human Rights to stop this abuse of human rights now -- and to uphold the right to freedom of expression in Iraq.

deadline: Ongoing...
goal: 10,000
 
10,690
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To: KRG Minister of Human Rights,
Dr. Yousif M. Aziz

Your Excellency,

We are deeply concerned about reports that a "death list" exists with names of journalists critical of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq.

We ask for the KRG authorities to take action and identify those responsible for creating the list and to bring them to justice.

We urge you to take all possible steps to ensure the safety of Souran 'Omar, Nehad Jami, Kusrat 'Abd al-Rahman and other journalists and writers named in the list and to uphold the right to freedom of expression, including the right to express criticism of the KRG.

We urge the KRG authorities to disclose the details of the investigation into the murders of journalist Souran Mama Hama and academic 'Abd al-Sattar Taher Sharif.

Journalists, or any other civilian for that matter, should not have to live in fear for speaking out. Please take action and work towards curbing these human rights violations.

[Your comments]

Sincerely,
[Your name]
We signed the “Speak Up for Justice for Journalists in Iraq” petition!
# 150:
11:53 pm PDT, Jul 31, Panagiotis Rigopoulos, Greece
# 149:
11:27 pm PDT, Jul 31, BiLL Fowlie, Maine
# 148:
11:23 pm PDT, Jul 31, Randy Benson, Texas
# 147:
11:19 pm PDT, Jul 31, Karen Simon, Illinois
# 146:
11:11 pm PDT, Jul 31, Black Tiger Petersen, Canada
# 145:
11:08 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, California
# 144:
10:56 pm PDT, Jul 31, Patty Langford, Texas
# 143:
10:53 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, California
# 142:
10:52 pm PDT, Jul 31, Sandra Williamson, Colorado
# 141:
10:46 pm PDT, Jul 31, Karen Eisenlord, California
# 140:
10:45 pm PDT, Jul 31, Animal Abuse Greece, Greece
# 139:
10:24 pm PDT, Jul 31, Mari Hotchkiss, Oregon
# 138:
10:22 pm PDT, Jul 31, Susan Levin, Louisiana
# 137:
10:03 pm PDT, Jul 31, Hashi Hanta, Arizona
# 136:
9:59 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, California
justice in their country (not refugee status because many refugess in eu, the us, etc. are just terrorists in disguise so although we would like to believe in you, we just hope your own country gets better for you)
# 135:
9:49 pm PDT, Jul 31, Michael Dewey, Massachusetts
# 134:
9:48 pm PDT, Jul 31, Jamie Flitton, Oregon
In order to have a truly free society the press and intellectual figures must be free to speak out without fear of harm or death, even if they are criticizing the government.
# 133:
9:43 pm PDT, Jul 31, Lynn Chuba, California
# 132:
9:39 pm PDT, Jul 31, Beth Laughlin, Alabama
# 131:
9:38 pm PDT, Jul 31, Ravin Sangha, California
# 130:
9:38 pm PDT, Jul 31, Cara Stutzman, North Carolina
# 129:
9:36 pm PDT, Jul 31, Bobbie Peter, Texas
# 128:
9:23 pm PDT, Jul 31, STEVEN GRIMALDI, Texas
# 127:
9:18 pm PDT, Jul 31, JeanAnn Rodine, Arizona
# 126:
9:14 pm PDT, Jul 31, Diana Dellamarie, California
# 125:
9:13 pm PDT, Jul 31, Sandra M Zwingelberg, Colorado
# 124:
9:10 pm PDT, Jul 31, Tom Sullivan, Alabama
# 123:
9:10 pm PDT, Jul 31, Denise Marlowe, Minnesota
# 122:
9:08 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, New York
# 121:
9:02 pm PDT, Jul 31, John MacDonald Hilton, Massachusetts
# 120:
8:49 pm PDT, Jul 31, Henry Parlin, Maine
# 119:
8:46 pm PDT, Jul 31, Seth Stern, New Jersey
# 118:
8:45 pm PDT, Jul 31, Pat Gray, Virginia
# 117:
8:39 pm PDT, Jul 31, Patricia Wisne, California
# 116:
8:37 pm PDT, Jul 31, Glen Venezio, Puerto Rico
# 115:
8:37 pm PDT, Jul 31, Kathleen Beasom, North Carolina
I have long sympathized with the Kurds and am shocked to read about this!
# 114:
8:37 pm PDT, Jul 31, Karen Jackson, LCSW, Nevada
You have the power to change the world,,,,do it, please!!!!!!
# 113:
8:34 pm PDT, Jul 31, Rex Dowling, Wisconsin
# 112:
8:33 pm PDT, Jul 31, Liz Savage, Washington
# 111:
8:32 pm PDT, Jul 31, Christina Garrett, Florida
When did it become common place for human rights to be taken for granted. We as humans have a right to speak out against injustices. You are the law, it is your responsibility to take action and stop the slaying of innocent people. How long are you going to continue to allow these murderers to rule your country. Take control now.
# 110:
8:31 pm PDT, Jul 31, Cassandra Boyer, California
# 109:
8:31 pm PDT, Jul 31, Jeffrey Newman, California
# 108:
8:31 pm PDT, Jul 31, Beth Julian, Pennsylvania
# 107:
8:30 pm PDT, Jul 31, Melissa Boyce, South Carolina
# 106:
8:29 pm PDT, Jul 31, James Grau, California
# 105:
8:28 pm PDT, Jul 31, Stasia Shpak, Nevada
let them work their job without pressure and harrasement
# 104:
8:27 pm PDT, Jul 31, Charlotte Stahl, Oregon
# 103:
8:17 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, New York
# 102:
8:15 pm PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, West Virginia
# 101:
8:13 pm PDT, Jul 31, Laura Delplace, North Carolina
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