Last call to Justice for Banaz
- KurdishMedia.com
- 20/06/2009 00:00:00
An Open letter to the Kurdish Regional Government and the high court in Sulaimani
In January 2006 four Kurdish men entered Banaz Mahmoud’s family home in London. They anally raped her between them for over two hours and strangled her with a boot lace for reasons of honour. Her crime, she had left her husband who had himself repeatedly brutally raped her. Her Uncle Ari Mahmod, and father Mahmod Mahmod were convicted of this crime in London and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Two others involved, Mohammed Ali and Omar Hussein fled to Sulymania, and boasted that a senior PUK politician, mentioned by name would protect them. Mrs Hero Talabani assured the British that Ali and Hussein would be returned to England to answer for their crimes, and the then PUK Interior Minister Mr Otham put Ali in custody in Sulymania awaiting his extradition to the UK.
The British Government formally requested Ali and Hussein’s extradition to London, under the Iraq UK Extradition Treaty. In December 2008 at the invitation of the Iraqi Government and the KRG the British flew to collect Ali, but just before arriving in Sulymania at the last minute the KRG refused to hand Ali over, claiming that the Iraqi Government had discovered a previously unknown legal problem.
Subsequently the Iraqi Government assured the British that the KRG must hand Ali over, and the British expected the KRG to comply with this instruction. On 18th June 2009 for reasons known only to the KRG, the Sulymania Criminal Court chaired by Judge Shaykh Latif declined to order Ali’s extradition, claiming that Iraq may not be allowed to extradite its own citizens. He is now considering the matter.
The British and Iraqi Governments are certain that Iraq can extradite its own citizens. If Iraq cannot extradite its own citizens, then why is there an Iraq UK extradition Treaty.
In December 2008 the KRG would not extradite because of instructions from Baghdad. Now that Baghdad has instructed the extradition to go ahead, the KRG is not following Baghdad’s instructions. This contradiction suggests that the KRG is seriously reluctant to extradite Ali.
Why is Shayk Latif holding a court hearing that is not required, citing a legal problem that does not exist, and failing to act according to a lawful extradition request. There is serious concern in the media, amongst women’s and human rights organisations that the court may release Ali, confirming to those that commit honour killings, that Kurdistan is a safe place for them.
Mr Talabani and Barzani have personally pledged to ensure that men that murder women in the name of honour must be punished. Actions and not words will prove if they are serious, and whether Ali and Hussein’s boasts that they are protected are true. We wait to see if both leaders will keep their word to the women of Kurdistan.
- KurdishMedia.com
- 20/06/2009 00:00:00