Demand justice for Sardasht Osman
- Number of organisations
- 17/01/2013 00:00:00
Date: 17th January 2013
To all Human Rights Organisations
To all Political Parties and Institutions defenders of Human Rights
To all Organisations defenders of Freedom of journalism, Freedom of Expression and Speech
The family and friends of Sardasht Osman and the undersigned freedom seeking organisations and groups need your support to establish a fare investigating committee and an independent and public trial for the assassination case of the young journalist Sardasht Osman in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Sardasht Osman was a 22 years old Iraqi Kurdish final-year university student from Erbil, who was kidnapped on 4 May 2010 outside the College of Arts in Arbil, where he studied English. Two days later his body was found in neighbouring Mosul city. His body had bruises and signs of torture and he was killed with a bullet in his mouth. He was known in Iraqi Kurdistan for writing articles criticizing the Kurdistan Regional Government; and in particular the ruling family of Barzani. Some of his articles were published under a pseudonym on several Kurdish websites.
After almost three years of waiting, his family, friends and the whole society were shocked by the outcomes of the formed investigating committee by Massoud Barzani. According to the shocking report from this committee who alleged that Osman was "tied" to Ansar al-Islam, a Sunni-Kurdish extremist group that has claimed attacks against American and Iraqi forces. "Sardasht Osman was killed by terrorists because he had promised to work with them and then decided not to," the committee said. They also introduced a person called Hisham Mahmoud Ismail as the main executioner and send the case to court.
Sardasht was turned from a victim of freedom of speech and a free thinking journalist in to a terrorist based on twisted, made up and vague evidences. The truth behind is murder and the reality has been twisted by a partial investigating committee.
Everyone in Iraqi Kurdistan knows that the place where Sardasht was kidnapped near his college is surrounded by Erbil security forces’ armed guards. There are several CCTV cameras operating 24 hours. Furthermore Erbil city’s borders towards other cities are much secured with various barriers and check points by the security forces. All these realties and other facts about who was Sardasht, beside all the threats and his own article about the threats and his expectations to be killed tell a very different story and introduces different evidence to those of the investigating committee.
The final stage of this set-up was that on 27th March 2012 the first trial took place in Erbil; But this hearing was postponed to several months because of scandalous mistakes in recording dates of the arrest and the confession of the offender; during this first hearing it became very clear that the security forces in Erbil recorded a confession on 30 /08/2010 while the alleged offender was arrested on 08/09/2010, which meant that he had confessed before he was even arrested. Also from to the questioning by Sardasht's family’ lawyer it became very clear that the offender was in prison even before Sardasht was murdered.
All above show that this process of investigation and trial of Sardasht's murder has been twisted, unfair and unjust, the court had acted and still is under the pressure of a political party and therefore is has lost it is very principle of independency. The next day for hearing based on the same investigation and partial court is the 20/01/2013.
We the under signed organisations and groups urge you to put pressure on the president of Kurdish Region and the Kurdish Regional Government to meet the demands of Sardasht’s family , journalists and freedom seeking people in Iraqi Kurdistan to :
Stop and put an end to the current trial scenario and to discharge the biased investigating committee.
Establish a new independent investigating committee formed from representatives from Sardasht’s family, none government organisations and International Human Rights organisations to launch a new investigation. This new committee need to be cooperated with and supported by KRG and the Security forces in Erbil.
We can reassure you that Sardsaht’s murder has a direct link to the question of Freedom of Speech and Expression in Iraqi Kurdistan; therefore a fare trial, justice and the truth behind this case will have a great impact of the process of establishing a society that protects those basic rights for everyone and will have a direct impact on the security and protection of any opposition voices to the current authority.
We urge you to show your solidarity with this mass movement and send your letters to KRG representatives in your countries or regions of work.
Signtures:
‘Stop Deportation to Iraq’ Campaign- London
17th February’s Youth Movement
Action Group for Transparency and Anti-Corruption In Kurdistan
Ala’s Group- Koysinjaqs Office
Assembly Center of Gorran (Change) Movement In Kifri
Bawanur-Pebaz’s Cultural Foundation
Campaign to Free Sayd Akram
Center for the Defense of Children's Rights in Iraq
Dang Group – Koysinjaq
Democratic Youth Union in Iraqi Kurdistan
European - Kurdistan Green Organization
Federation of Civil Organizations in Koysinjaq
Federation of Civil Society Organizations in Sulaymaniyah (10 organizations)
Freedom House- Netherlands
Freedom Umbrella in London
General Federation of Civil Society Organizations in Kurdistan
General Union of Students in Kurdistan
Goran’s Students Association in Erbil
Group of Sociologists and psychiatrists in Sulaymaniyah
Halabja 88’s Group
Independent Youth’s Group in Kifri
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees- Kurdistan Branch
Iraqi Kurd Refugees Organization in Norway
Kurdish Community Organization in London
Kurdistan Construction Workers’ Organization
Kurdistan Libertarian Women’s Organization
Kurdistan Students’ Development Organization
Kurdistan Students Movement – Kifri’s Center
Kurdistan Women’s Association – Darbandikhan Branch
Kurdocide Watch-Chak
Metro Center for the Defense of Journalists in Kurdistan
Middle East and Kurdish Women Organization in Britain
Network of NGO’s in Kurdistan
Organization for the Support of Democracy in Kurdistan
Payam Group in Garmyan
People’s Development Association (PDA) - Kurdistan
Sardasht Osman’s Organization for the Defense of Freedom
Tekoshan (Struggle) Center – Dahuk
The Committee of the Defense of Public Interests – Khanaqin
The Group of Reporters Without Border in Kurdistan
The Liberty movement of Karkuk’s People
The Movement of Free and Equal Citizens/ Kurdistan
The Network of Defending People’s Rights and Freedoms-Kurdistan
Vanguard Youth Organization of Kurdistan
Volunteer Organization for Human Capacity Development in Kurdistan
Warvin Foundation for Women’s Issues
Women Organization (Astera) in Finland
Women's Legal Assistance Organisation / Kurdistan
Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan- Organization Abroad
Zang League – Bahdinan Office
Zar Group for the Defense of Freedom- Erbil
Zhyan Organization for Aid and Development/ Iraq
Belgium Kurdish Cultural Organisation – Belgium
Medusa Organisation
Centre to Defend Right of Children – Sweden
Nina Centre for Advice and sheltering Women
Iraqi Refugee Council in Gothenburg
Stop Deportation Network
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees in Switzerland
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
Communication Worker’s Union – London PCS / Karen Johns
Supporting People’s Demands Committee in Gothenburg / Sweden
Sardsaht Osman Organisation for Defending Freedom Gothenburg / Sweden
Kurdish Society Association / Mushin
Women Association in Sweden
Scone Kurd Association in Malmo
Kurdistan Culture in Gothenburg / Sweden
Garmian Association in Gothenburg
Kurdish Nation Association / Sweden
Youth Association in Sweden
Youth Association in Gothenburg
Matin Association in Sweden
Hoba Art Association in Gutenberg
The fine Arts Association in Gothenburg / Sweden
Kurdistan Academics Association in Gothenburg
Campaign against restricting Freedom of Speech
Campaign to defend the freedoms and demands of people in Kurdistan – Denmark
Campaign for the Freedom of Karzan Karim
17th February Group / Stockholm
Kurdish Studies and Cultural Centre in Gothenburg / Sweden
Halabja Centre against Anfal and Genocide of Kurdish nation – CHAK
Kurdish Institute in Stockholm
Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party
Workers Communist Party of Kurdistan
Kurdistan Future Party
The Society of Socialist Workers
Communist Party of Kurdistan / Darbandixan Committee
Press office of Kurdistan Future Party
Ary Printing and publishing centre
Hawlati Newspaper
South Magazine / Badinan
Truska Magazine
Penusakan Foundation
Hawpshti Foundation
Nasnama Foundation in Finland
Kurdistan Post website
Kurdistan Net website
Kurdish - French Web radio
Rewand Website
Malama website
Malmo Kurd website
Aga Press website
Emro website
Board of Directors of the Nation Pain Page
Please send your letter to KRG representative; following is the contact details of their office:
KRG Representation in the United Kingdom
Ms Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman
23 Buckingham Gate (4th Floor)
London SW1E 6LB
Phone: +44 (0) 203 301 8340
Fax: +44 (0) 207 828 0257
Email: uk@krg.org
KRG Representation in the USA
Mr Qubad Talabani
1532 16th St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: +1 202 797 7575
Fax: +1 202 821 1870
Email: us@krg.org
KRG Representation in Australia
Mr Haval A. Syan
P O Box 491 Liverpool
NSW 2170 Sydney, Australia
Phone: 612 98 22 22 72
Fax: 612 98 22 22 76
Email: australia@krg.org.
KRG Mission to the European Union
Mr Carlos Kurdi (Salim Gravi)
Avenue Franklin Roosevelt 228
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32-2-513 72 28
Fax: +32-2-513 36 79
Email: eu@krg.org
KRG Representation in France
Ms Khaman Zirar Asaad
57 Rue de l'Université 75007 Paris
Ouvert du lundi au vendredi de 10:00 à 18:00
Telephone : +33145442021
Fax : +33145442022
Email:france@krg.orghttp
KRG Representation in Germany
Mr Dilshad Barzani
P.O. Box 150 101
D-10633 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 2888 495 0
Fax: +49 30 2888 495 29
Email: germany@krg.org
KRG Representation in Sweden
Mr Herish Farhan Khola
KRG Representation in Switzerland
Dr Fauzi Kaddur
Thunstr. 74
CH-3006 Bern
Switzerland
Phone: +41 31 352 00 60
Fax: +41 31 352 00 61
Mobile: +41 79 601 35 55
For further information about this campaign ; Please contact :
Gona Saed
Tel: 00447894252708
Email : dadga2013@gmail.com
Please email us a copy of your letter
- Number of organisations
- 17/01/2013 00:00:00