Spoetnik
26-02-05, 13:53
February 26, 2005
Ambassador of Iraq
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
1801 P St NW
Washington DC 20036
Dear Ambassador,
I am writing to express concern for the safety of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi. On the morning of February 17th at 4 am, US military personnel and members of the Iraqi National Guard forced their way into her home and proceeded to handcuff and blindfold her and to beat, handcuff and blindfold her two daughters, Nura, aged 14 and Sarah, aged 20. They allegedly raided her house and office, removed personal jewelry items, US $2500, three computers and a mobile phone. According to her daughters, the soldiers accused Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi of “supporting the resistance” before taking her away to an unknown location.
Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi had been previously detained in December 2003 at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. After her release in July 2004, she gave interviews to national media in which she alleged that she was tortured and ill-treated. I am concerned for her safety, since in April 2004, the world-wide media published photographs of Iraqi detainees being tortured and ill-treated at this very prison location. Allegations of women detainees being subjected to various forms of sexual abuse including rape, as well as methods of systematic torture including sleep-deprivation, beatings, forcing detainees to stand for long periods or listen to loud music and sexual humiliation have been reported.
I ask you to reveal the whereabouts and the reason for the detention of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi. Please provide assurance that she will not be ill-treated or tortured if she is in fact, detained.
Please grant Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi immediate access to a lawyer, family and any medical treatment that she may need following her recent surgery. I am especially concerned for the health of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi as she was recovering from a surgical operation that she had undergone just one week prior.
I ask you to grant immediate and impartial investigation into these allegations, with anyone found responsible to be brought to justice.
Please also forward my appeals to Mr. Ghazi al-Yawar, President of the Republic of Iraq and to Dr. Iyad ‘Allawi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=11554
Ambassador of Iraq
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq
1801 P St NW
Washington DC 20036
Dear Ambassador,
I am writing to express concern for the safety of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi. On the morning of February 17th at 4 am, US military personnel and members of the Iraqi National Guard forced their way into her home and proceeded to handcuff and blindfold her and to beat, handcuff and blindfold her two daughters, Nura, aged 14 and Sarah, aged 20. They allegedly raided her house and office, removed personal jewelry items, US $2500, three computers and a mobile phone. According to her daughters, the soldiers accused Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi of “supporting the resistance” before taking her away to an unknown location.
Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi had been previously detained in December 2003 at Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. After her release in July 2004, she gave interviews to national media in which she alleged that she was tortured and ill-treated. I am concerned for her safety, since in April 2004, the world-wide media published photographs of Iraqi detainees being tortured and ill-treated at this very prison location. Allegations of women detainees being subjected to various forms of sexual abuse including rape, as well as methods of systematic torture including sleep-deprivation, beatings, forcing detainees to stand for long periods or listen to loud music and sexual humiliation have been reported.
I ask you to reveal the whereabouts and the reason for the detention of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi. Please provide assurance that she will not be ill-treated or tortured if she is in fact, detained.
Please grant Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi immediate access to a lawyer, family and any medical treatment that she may need following her recent surgery. I am especially concerned for the health of Huda Hafez Ahmad al-‘Azawi as she was recovering from a surgical operation that she had undergone just one week prior.
I ask you to grant immediate and impartial investigation into these allegations, with anyone found responsible to be brought to justice.
Please also forward my appeals to Mr. Ghazi al-Yawar, President of the Republic of Iraq and to Dr. Iyad ‘Allawi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq.
Thank you for your consideration in this matter.
Sincerely,
http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=11554