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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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 Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:01 am Post subject: Meanwhile up in Kurdistan.... |
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From Amnesty International...
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AI Index: MDE 14/016/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 079
28 March 2006
Iraq: Prosecutions threaten freedom of expression in northern Iraq
Amnesty International is greatly concerned by the prosecutions of two critics of the Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq and the threat these pose to freedom of expression in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.
Kamal Sayid Qadir, an Austrian national of Kurdish origin, has been imprisoned since October 2005 for allegedly defaming Kurdish political leaders, while high school teacher and journalist Hawez Hawezi is facing prosecution, also on defamation charges.
Kamal Sayid Qadir was first tried in December 2005 before the Second Criminal Court in Arbil. He was charged with defamation arising from two articles which he had published on the internet, in which he strongly criticised the leadership of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the two parties holding power in the Kurdish-dominated region of northern Iraq. The trial did not satisfy international fair trial standards and at the end of it Kamal Sayid Qadir was convicted, although he denied the charges and reportedly presented evidence to support his criticism of KDP leaders, and given an extraordinarily heavy sentence of 30 years�� imprisonment. This sentence was subsequently overturned by the Court of Cassation, which sent the case back to a criminal court in Arbil for re-trial. On 26 March 2006, the court imposed a new sentence of 18 months�� imprisonment.
While imprisoned prior to his December 2005 trial, Kamal Sayid Qadir was reportedly held incommunicado for three days in solitary confinement and denied food, water or access to toilet facilities. He says Kurdish intelligence officials coerced him into signing a statement relating to the defamation charges that were brought against him. He is also reported to be in fear for his own safety because of threats made against him by Kurdish intelligence officials and supporters of the Kurdish leaders |
http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE140162006 |
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bucheon bum
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 12:38 pm Post subject: |
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| so cheney, what do you have to say about this? |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 12:23 am Post subject: |
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The guy is in jail it is not like it is good. That being said Saddam would have had him and then his family killed.Though any female relatives would have been raped - before they were killed.
South Korea commited lots of human rights violations in the 50's and 60's.
They were still a lot better than their cousins to the North. |
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Pink Freud
Joined: 27 Jan 2003
Location: Daegu
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:56 am Post subject: The sound of one hand slapping... |
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By this (lack of) logic it's okay if I beat my wife, so long as I don't hit her as hard as my neighbour hits his?
You're slipping, Joo, really slipping. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 3:44 am Post subject: |
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You're slipping, Joo, really slipping.
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I'm not sure I'd say Joo is slipping. "Not as bad as Saddam" has been one of his standby arguments for as long as I can remember.
My main interest in this story stems from the Kurdish regions being the one area of Iraq that's held up as an unqualified success story by the pro-war crowd. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 4:15 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
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You're slipping, Joo, really slipping.
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I'm not sure I'd say Joo is slipping. "Not as bad as Saddam" has been one of his standby arguments for as long as I can remember.
My main interest in this story stems from the Kurdish regions being the one area of Iraq that's held up as an unqualified success story by the pro-war crowd. |
That's right, as far as the neo-cons go, it's a little troubling when they hold up these places in the Middle East as crucibles of democracy, and their leaders as some sort of founding fathers. Not sure how far you can push this one against the administration, though, except as far as to say, "This isn't the picture of a glittering democracy filled with rights for all and proper due process you've been trying to paint for us."
Still, I have a great deal of sympathy for Joo's position on this one. I don't think he's defending the hyperbole of the neo-con's rhetoric, he's just saying, "Well, what do you expect, people? You aren't actually buying everything Cheney/Bush et al are saying, are you?"
I have to say, though, good work Amnesty International. I really began to appreciate their efforts when they compiled an exhaustive list of detainee abuses by American forces in Iraq. |
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Joo Rip Gwa Rhhee
Joined: 25 May 2003
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| Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2006 1:47 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know what the point of this thread is. Is the Kurdish area perfectly democratic? No. Is is much bether than Saddam? Yes It is probably beter than most of the mideast.
So if the place where the US has more influence is more democratic and tolerent than much of the mideast then what does that mean? |
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