Informed Comment

Thoughts on the Middle East, History, and Religion

Juan Cole is President of the Global Americana Institute

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Kamal Sayid Qadir Jailed for Criticism of Barzani

The proto-fascist mini-state of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Arbil [Irbil], northern Iraq, has sentenced an Austrian-Kurdish journalist to 18 months in prison for criticizing Massoud Barzani.


Barzani

Barzani last allied with Saddam Hussein against fellow Kurds as late as 1996, only a decade ago. And you can't criticize him?

If Syria or Iran had done this (not that they don't), there would have been a huge squeal of outrage from the American right. I challenge Instapundit, Andrew Sullivan, and Christopher Hitchens to intervene effectively to get Kamal Sayid Qadir out of Barzani's jail. Here is something all of us, left and right, can agree on, and I hope the Left blogs the hell out of it, too. Will someone please start a blog to count the days Qadir is not free?


Qadir

American blood was shed saving the Kurds from Saddam, and this is not right. It is not right.

2 Comments:

At 5:05 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

This is tragic. Yet I doubt that this is the sort of news that would attract attention our of Iraq with everything else falling apart the way they are... Albeit I must admit I was pleasantly surprised when I was told by a Kurd friend that recently a rather audacious book came out in Kurdistan exploring female sexuality in Islam and the author has thus far not faced much hostility...

 
At 6:54 PM, Blogger Charles Chapman said...

"to whom should we direct letters and email? i'd like to take at least that action"

You will want to contact the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

This is the contact information I got off of that page:

* The Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil
Phone: +870 764 358 725
Fax: +1-651-846-6051
Email: erbil@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in CIS countries
Russia-Moscow
Phone: +7(095)248 44 50
Fax: +7(095)248 44 50
Email: rus@rp.krg.org

Europe

* KRG Representation in Austria
Phone: +43 664 34 50 465
Fax: +43 1 544 03 05
Email: austria@rp.krg.org


* KRG-European Union Mission
rue de la loi 221
1040 Brussels
BELGIUM
Phone: +32-2-513 72 28
Fax: +32-2-513 36 79
Email: eu@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in France
Phone: +33 1 42 65 18 45
Fax: +33 1 42 65 18 46
Email: france@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in Germany
Vertretung der Regionalregierung-Kurdistan Irak in Deutschland
P.O. Box 150 101
D-10633 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 7974 8491
Fax: +49 30 7974 8492
Email: germany@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in the Nordic Countries
Box 7127
SE-170 07 Solna
Sweden
Phone: +46 8 442 0505
Fax: +46 8 442 0905
Email: nordic@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in Switzerland
Dr. Fauzi Kaddur
Postfach 113
CH-9012 St.Gallen
Switzerland
Phone: +41 71 333 31 55
Fax: +41 71 333 30 29
Mobile: 0+41 79 601 35 55
Email: switzerland@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in Poland
Rynek Gl?wny 39/8
31-013 Krak?w
Poland
Phone: +48 12 429-11-93
Fax: +48 12 429-11-93
Email: poland@rp.krg.org


* KRG Representation in the United Kingdom
Winchester House, 8th Floor
259-269 Old Marylebone Road
London NW1 5RA
Phone: +44 (0)20 7170 4300
Fax: +44 (0)20 7170 4301
Email: uk@rp.krg.org
It is necessary to make an appointment before visiting the UK office. For administration matters appointments can be made on either Mondays or Thursdays between 11.00-16.00 GMT.

N.America

* KRG Advisory Office to the United Nations & International Organizations
Dr. Dindar Zebari
Kurdistan Regional Government Council of Ministers advisor for the United Nations and International Organizations Affairs
Council of Ministers, Iraqi Kurdistan Region - Erbil
Phone: 00447028601000 ext 4509990
0032 484509990
Local Mobile: 4509990
Office Phone: 2520064
Email: un@rp.krg.org


* KRG - USA, CANADA & UN Representation
1420 Spring Hill Road, Suite 600
Mclean, Virginia 22102, USA
Phone: 703 442 5314
Fax: 703 224 5316
Email: us@rp.krg.org
Nijyar H. Shemdin, U.S. Representative of Kurdistan Regional Government, is registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act on behalf of Kurdistan Regional Government, Erbil. Additional information concerning the registration is on file at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C..

Oceania

* KRG Representation in Australia
P O Box 491 Liverpool
NSW 2170 Sydney
Australia
Phone: 612 98 22 22 72
Fax: 612 98 22 22 76
Email: australia@rp.krg.org

 

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