An open letter to:
President of Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq,
Prime Minister of Kurdistan Regional Government, Iraq,
Kurdistan Regional Government and public opinion,
20 February 2013
Having received the news that Simon Dawod and Hassan Nasrollah have been found and are now in custody under KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, we, the undersigned, are extremely concerned about guaranteeing the safety of Simon and making sure that Hassan investigated, and tried in a just manner for crimes he allegedly has committed. Therefore, we are presenting our demands and suggestions below in order to make sure that this case is solved without religious and tribalist interference:
Firstly: We demand the involvement of the Women’s Commission and the Human Rights Commission within the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Parliament, not the Religious Affairs Committee. We are urging that this case be dealt with outside of religious approaches.
Secondly: Protecting the life of Simon Dawod and ensuring the safety in custody of Hassan Nasrollah are the responsibility of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Therefore, we request that the KRG provide all legal advice necessary for solving this case. No religious or political bargaining should be permitted in addressing this case.
Thirdly: We request that immediate visits be made to the religious and spiritual leaders of the Yazidis and to Simon’s family and are made aware that women’s organisations are involved and that absolutely no harm to Simon or to Hassan will be tolerated.
Fourthly: We request that social workers, psychologists, officials of the court system, and local and international nongovernmental organizations be assigned to this case in order to step in and provide professional help and advice and to monitor the well-being and safety of Simon and Hassan.
Fifthly: We request that Simon’s family and community be offered help and support so that they do not regard Simon’s case as a matter of shame on their honour or their community’s honour.
Sixth: We request that the Kurdistan Regional Government assist immediately in transferring Simon and her immediate relatives out of Iraq to a safe country where their well-being and security can be guaranteed, if this is the family’s wish.
Seventh: We demand that this case be treated in a neutral manner and that the under-age abduction (kidnapping) of Simon be thoroughly investigated through a fair and just trial for Hassan Nasrollah.
Sincerely, the undersigned:
Yanar Mohammed: President of Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq- Bagdad
Lanja Abdulla: Head of Warvin Foundation for Women’s Issues-Kurdistan- Erbil
Houzan Mahmoud: International representative of the Organisations of Women’s Freedom in Iraq-UK
D. Choman Hardi: Writer and scholar- Germany
Avin Aziz: Journalist and Specialist in Gender- Sweden
Sakar Rostan: Warvin Foundation for Women’s Issues- Kurdistan Region
Suzan Shihab: Member of Parliament in Kurdistan
Kwestan Mohammed: member of Kurdistan Parliament and Member of women’s commission.
Narmin Othman: former Iraqi Minister for the Environment
Najiba Mahmoud: Journalist and women’s rights activist- Sweden
Khandan Jaza: Women’s rights activist- Norway
Khanim Rahim: Head of Asuda Organization – Sulaimania
Ivan Darraji: Writer and Artist- Iraq
Sara Mohammed: Chairwoman of the Never forget Pela and Fadime organisation- Sweden
Chlora Hardi: Women’s rights activist- Kurdistan Region
Nalia Ibrahim: Co-Chairperson of “Environment Friends” in Kurdistan- Sweden
European Women’s Lobby-UK
French coordination of the European Women’s Lobby- president Olga (A network of 80 NGO in France) –CLEF-France
League for the International Right of Women: President Annie Sugier (created by Simone de Beauvoir)-France
Lisa-Marie Taylor-Project Manager-Feminism in London Committee-UK
Roj Women’s-London-UK
Atta Mufti: Kurdish Exile Association-UK
Martha Jean Baker: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
SARA SAYED: WOMEN ACTIION FOURM, KARACHI -PAKISTAN
Xavier Dias ,Editor: ADHIKAR NEWSPAPER , Jharkhand INDIA
Liah Ghazanfar Jawad: position Director of Foundation of Solidarity for Justice and Human Rightsn Activist: Afghanistna.
Doaa Abdelaal, Cairo- Egypt,
Stéphane Julien: Solidarité Irak- France.
Zryan Jamil: Journalist- Erbil
Talar Hirani: theater actress- Sweden
Shadan Abdul: Civil society activist- Kurdistan Region
Kamaran Muhammed: Journalist
Jasim Khafour: Artist- UK
Chiman Rashid: Writer- Kurdistan Region
Suzan Amin: Nina Center- Sweden
Hana Shwan: Journalist- Kurdistn region
Sara Umar: lawyer and writer- Denmark
Lazo Azad: Poet- Sweden
Nahid Mukri: Women’s rights activist- Sweden
Shokhan Faraj: Human rights activist- UK
Fariba Mohammedi: Journalist and Political Activist- Sulaimania
Shwan Khorshid: Journalist- Kirkuk
Rahman Kharib: Journalist- Kurdistan Region
Friends Kurdistan’s environment organization- Sweden
Rounak Shwani: Writer
Dham Simko: MA Student- France
Ariyan Omid Arif: Journalist- Norway
Trifa Amin: Microbiologist- Germany
Ibrahim Abbas: Journalist- Kurdistan Region
Rezan Salih: Theatre actress-Norway
Akram Nadir: Representative of Federation of Workers councils and unions in Iraq
Kajal Nori: Gender Activist- Netherlands
Anwar Rasha Abdulla: Writer, UK
Kirmanj Gundi: Professor at Tennessee State University- USA
Ranj Sangawi: Journalist- Kurdistan Region
Sherko Kirmanj: Researcher- Australia
Heyrsh Abdulrahman: Political Observer- USA
Saman Faraj: Student and Writer- Sheffield University- UK
Khalil Khawariyan: Civil activist- Eastern Part of Kurdistan
Avin Ibrahim Fatah: Writer and academic
Kholiya Hosein: Women’s rights activist and Poet- Canada
Hemin Hama Jaza: Poet and musician- Kurdistan Region
Foad Jalal Salam: Civil rights activist- UK
Shanga Rahim: Women’s Legal Assistance Organization- Kurdistan Region
Sahar Rasayee: Writer- Sweden
Khanda Hamid: Employee in Media Section
Shahla Yarhosein: Women’s rights activist
Aram Ali: Artist-Kurdistan Region
Arif Roushdi: Writer and Politician-Kurdistan
Karzan Jalal: IT specialist- Paris-France
Shorsh Palani University student- Winnipeg, Canada
San Saravan: Film Director- Nottingham, UK
Renas Arif: Artist and cartoonist- Netherlands
Sitara Arif: Journalist- Southern part of Kurdistan
Sara Qadir: Journalist and academic
Shankar Abdulla Ali: Writer and Journalist
Aso Jabar: Writer and Journalist, USA
Nawzad Hama Sharif: Kurdistan Environment Friends- Sweden
Tarza Tofiq: Political activist of Eastern Part of Kurdistan- Sulaimania
Mitra Aryan: Writer and activist of the Feminist Movement
Shamal Ako: Student- Sweden
Jihan Taha: Kurdistan
Shadi Nawzad: University student- Kurdistan
Hawar Qaradaghi: Musician-Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dara Ali: Poet- Vancouver, Canada
Suzan Tariq: Sidney Australia
Nala Abdulrahman: Writer and M.A student in International Law
Siyawash Modaressi: Multimedia Designer- UK
Suzan Mama: Poet- London
Aras Rashid: Political activist- Canada
Maryam Abdulrahman: Women’s rights activist- Canada
Foad Qaradaghi: Writer- Kurdistan
Twana Saadi Mahmoud: Worker
Viyan Majid Faraj: Writer- Kurdistan
Ala Latif: Journalist
Sabri Bahmani: Political activist- Kurdistan Region
Kaywan Hawrami: Journalist- Halabja, Kurdistan Region
Tanya Mohammed: Poet, Kurdistan region
Farman Khelani: Civil society activist: Belgium
Salam Abdulla: Member of Peace and Hope Committee
Jani Dilan: Journalist, USA
Akam Othman Halabjayee: Journalist, Kurdistan Region
Avan Jaf: Journalist, Kurdistan Region
Shwan Siddiq: Journalist, Kurdistan Region
Jiwan Rahim: Asuda Center
Hemin Mirani: PH.D Candidate, UK
Mokhtar Khandani: Journalist and civil society activist, Eastern part of Kurdistan
Arsalan Yarahmadi: Human aights activist
Jalila Shahnazi: Civil society activist, Erbil
Silvana Bayazidpour: Women’s rights activist and lawyer
Hiwa Barzinji: Journalist, Erbil
Goran Dukani: Journalist, USA
Dilshad Omer Kaki: Poet and Journalist- Germany
Rojin Sharifi: Political activist, Kurdistan
Dalia Mahmoud: Sweden
Hawar Tayeb: Kurdistan Region
Gaëlle Silva Marques:Bypass Editions-Sweeden
Álvaro Seiça Neves: Bypass Edition-Sweeden
Shadi Sadr: Justice for Iran-UK
Mariana Avelãs: ATTAC-Portugal
Azar Majedi: President of Organisation of Women’s Liberation-Iran
Nicola Stott: PhD Candidate, Centre for Women’s Studies, The University of York, UK.
Sawsan Zakzak: Researcher-Syria
Dina Wahba: Consultant- Women Living under Muslim Laws-Egypt
Gjyner Nebiu: Women’s Civic Initiative Antico-Macedonia
Zohre Asadpoor: Women’s rights activist-Iran
Mehmet Masum Süer: Photographer-Amed-Turky
Evelyne Accad: Academic-Lebanon
Anita Espander: Artist-Denmanrk
Jilah Bakhshayesh: Human rights activist-UK
Maria Hagberg: chairperson the Network Against Honor Related Violence
Hikma Ahmed: Women’s rights activist-Sudan
Maryam Namazie: One law for all Organisation-UK
Maria Almeida: Lisboa- Portugal
Maria Vlachou: Lisbon-Portugal
Fabienne Melmi: French citizen resident in Italy (L’aquila)
Françoise MORVAN: European Women’s Lobby
Jennifer Drew: Consultant to Scottish Women against Pornography-United Kingdom
Julian Norman, UK Legal Feminist Group
Lilian halls-french: co president of European Feminist Initiative. IFE-EFI
Boriana Johnson: IFE-EFI member-Jordan
Amanj Khalil: Journalist-Kurdistan
Enwer Hojebri: journalist-Kurdistan
Yadgar Fayaq: Journalist -Kurdistan Region.
saman hma gareb: Journalist – Kurdistan
Shamkhi Jabr : activist and journalist – Iraq
Mustafa Mohamed Hassan: Veterinarian and writer – Iraq
Nina Sankari: member of the Feminist for Another Europe network-Poland
Mustafa Alaidana: journalist- Iraq
Bassam Mohammed Gaood: a non-governmental employee – Iraq
Husam Muhammad Ali: media \writer and poet – Iraq
Saif Iraqi : media and civilians activist – Iraq
Tributary El Jubouri :Lawyer – Iraq
Aeub Lhone: filmmaker / UK
Kit Larsen Hughes: Teacher-Sweden
Javaria Naveed:
Rola Khayyat: Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Zidan: Cairo, Egypt.
Mark Manning, blue collar worker, USA
Xulfi Mahesar: Karachi- Pakistan
Mohd Khan Ahmadani : Trade unionist Sindh
Zafar imam: Political activist/writter/Editor Sindh-Pakistan
Rashid Legari: sub editor Awami Awaz-Pakistan
Dr Ravi kumar: social activist , Hyderabad Sindh
Shadi Amin: Germany
Evan Siegel: USA
Nicolas Dessaux: archeologist, ICO & Solidarité Irak, France
Stéphane Julien: teacher, ICO & Solidarité Irak, France
Sophie Boiszeau: ICO activist, precarious worker in employment center, France.
Benjamin Caminade: ICO activist, railroad unionist, France
Jean-Yves Zoltar: ICO activist, electrical unionist, France
Arland Mehmetaj: ICO activist, unemployed, France.
Fabienne Melmi, Italy
Boudjemaa Sedira, artist- France.
Dr Shabir Sheikh .Hyderabad sindh-Pakistan
Dr ghazi Usman: Karachi social activist-Pakistan
Dr Eshwer Kumar: Consultant Psychiatrist /writter Hyderabad Sindh
Satyaparkash Gupta: Film Director/activist, Mumbai -India
Ali Taqui: Journalist /writter-Hyderabad Sindh-Pakistan
Ijaz shah: writer-Hyderabad Sindh-Pakistan
Dr Maleeha Memon: Political activist/social , Hyderabad Sindh-Pakistan
Dr Santosh Kumar: DUHS Karachi Sindh-Pakistan
Dr Mehbob Ali Khuwaja: Political activist Karachi-Pakistan
Dr Anand: Left Party Pakistan , Karachi-Pakistan
Akam Noaman Halabjaey: Journalist-Kurdistan
Estella Schmid: Peace in Kurdistan Campaign-UK
Mark Campbell: London-UK
For more information please contact:
Houzan Mahmoud: houzan2007@yahoo.com & Lanja Abdullah: lanjaebdulla@gmail.com
