[Antiracism] US Forces Raid IFC Office - Baghdad

[American Friends Service Committee]

Friends,

US troops have raided the offices of the Iraq Freedom Conference.  Samir 
Adil is the President of IFC.  AFSC and the UMass Anti War Coalition 
brought Samir to WMA this past spring.  The IFC is at the center of a 
nonviolent, democratic people's movement in Iraq.  For more information 
about Samir and the IFC, please  visit 
http://www.westernmassafsc.org/vwb/vwb_Jun06.pdf
to access Beth Adel's article about the IFC in the June issue of the Valley 
War Bulletin.  AFSC is charting a response now.  I will keep you informed.

Jo


>TO:     Jo
>RE:     US Raid on Iraq Freedom Congress Baghdad Offices
>
>I just received information about last weeks raid by US troops on the 
>Baghdad office of the Iraq Freedom Congress.  I have also included a 
>statement released by ZENKO the group in Japan that invited me to their 
>conference in August.  We need to respond ASAP.
>
>
>In Solidarity With The Iraq Freedom Congress (14 August)
><http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/08/in-solidarity-with-iraq-freedom.htm>http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/08/in-solidarity-with-iraq-freedom.htm 
>
>
>Iraq Freedom Congress (20 June)
><http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/06/iraq-freedom-congress.htm>http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/06/iraq-freedom-congress.htm 
>
>
>Beyond Dictators and Occupation: A Way Forward in Iraq (May)
><http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/04/beyond-dictators-and-occupation-way.htm>http://www.afsc.org/iraq/news/2006/04/beyond-dictators-and-occupation-way.htm 
>
>
>*****
>
>US troops raid IFC head office in Baghdad
><http://www.ifcongress.com/English/News/Sep06/us-ifc.htm>http://www.ifcongress.com/English/News/Sep06/us-ifc.htm 
>
>
>On September 7 and 8, U.S. troops raided the IFC head office in Baghdad. 
>The raid came after a series of IFC civil activities against the 
>occupation. The troops were outraged when they saw the anti-occupation 
>banners and posters showing international solidarity with Iraqi people 
>hanging on the walls. They reacted violently and broke all internal doors, 
>destroyed furniture, and confiscated most of the office property.
>
>This cruel act is not a surprise to anyone familiar with U.S. 
>administration policy which is to eliminate its opponents by all means. 
>These kinds of acts reveal the true face of the occupation and its 
>hypocrisy about freedom and democracy they brought to the Iraqi 
>people.  These acts actually demonstrate the fact that the complete 
>destruction of Iraq and daily genocide are the implication of this brutal 
>policy and it can be achieved only by breaking the people will who are 
>eager for freedom.
>
>As the U.S.-led occupation unleashed the sectarian gangs to take control 
>of the society, it attempts to tighten its grip around the libertarian 
>forces who oppose its projects and presence in Iraq. It turns a blind eyes 
>to the daily killing of civilians in broad daylight and the sectarian 
>cleansing that is conducted by groups whom it supports and uses the Iraqi 
>wealth to oppress Iraqis.
>
>The occupation along with its puppet government in Iraq has failed 
>miserably to bring security and basic civil services to Iraq. These 
>vicious acts are the normal reaction to these failures.
>
>As Iraq Freedom Congress condemns those kinds of acts, it declares that it 
>will continue the pace to struggle to end the occupation. There will be no 
>security and stability without ending the occupation.
>
>Down with the occupation s brutal acts
>Long live Iraqis struggle for freedom
>Long live Iraq Freedom Congress
>
>Iraq Freedom Congress
>September 9, 2006
>
>***
>
>Statement from ZENKO
>
>Dear Samir Adil, president of IFC
>
>We condemn the brutal raid to IFC head office by US army and express our 
>deepest solidarity with IFC. We support the strike of Southern Oil Company 
>Union and  the strike of the employers of Al aadamya branch of 
>Municipality of Baghdad.
>
>We will stand up to demand immediate withdrawal of all occupying forces 
>from Iraq on 24 September 2006.
>
>In Solidarity
>
>YAMAKAWA Yoshiyasu
>representative of ZENKO(National Assembly for Peace and Democracy, Japan)
>
>MORI, Fumihiro
>co-chairperson of the Committee for Solidarity with Civil Resistance of Iraq



"What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life?
         The world would split open"  ~ Muriel Rukeyser


Jo Comerford
American Friends Service Committee, Western Massachusetts
140 Pine Street, Room 10
Florence, Massachusetts 01062
413.584.8975 (W)
413.584.8987 (F)
413.695.6059 (C)
afsc at crocker.com
www.WesternMassAFSC.org

New Resource:
Ten Reasons Why the US Must Leave Iraq:
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.pdf
http://www.afsc.org/iraq/activism/10-reasons.htm (Text)
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