Iraqi Delegation Visit, 2009

Iraq in its 7th year of occupation
30 April to 2 May 2009

Iraq in its 7th year of occupation
Iraqi Delegation Visit – 30 April to 2 May 2009

A delegation of key Iraqi figures from diverse political backgrounds, while touring key European cities including Stockholm, Oslo, Brussels and Paris, visited Geneva from 29 April to 2 May 2009 where they were hosted by the Cordoba Foundation for Peace Promotion and Alkarama Foundation for Human Rights. The aim of the visit was to inform various international organisations, NGOs and the media of the political, security and human rights situation in Iraq, and to present their national perspective on bringing an end to the crisis which has recently witnessed an increase in deadly violence. The delegation was composed of:

Prof. Mohammed Bashar Al Faidhi is a member of the Secretariat-General and spokesperson of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq, representing Iraqi religious leaders and working towards improving relations between Shiite and Sunnite within an Iraqi national political perspective. The Association also carries out social activities to help those who have lost their sources of income and looks after the Iraqi families of those wounded or being detained. As spokesperson for the Association, Prof. Al Faidhi has participated in several symposia in Europe, including that organised by the Committee for Solidarity with the Arab World held in October 2008 in Spain.

Mr Raad Nassir Al Adhami is the President of the Loyalty for Iraq Grouping, a political party which participated in the last general elections. He pulled out of the race on the eve of the elections after he and a number of Iraqi politicians raised their concerns on the lack of compliance with international standards for open and transparent elections with the US Ambassador at the time, Zalmay Mamozy Khalilzad, without result.

Mr Mohammed Hassan Khalef was the President of the first Governing Council of the city of Fallujah. He has experience working with US military and civilian authorities in a city known for a battle which represented a turn in the American war.

Gen. Saifaldin Nasser Al Okidi is a former General of the Iraqi Army. He was also detained by US forces, which has provided him with unique insight into human rights violations taking place in Iraq.

During their stay in Geneva, the delegation met with representatives of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, where they addressed the issue of armed militias and spoke of the necessity for the Iraqi Army to return to its original, national mandate, and move away from serving certain sectarian interests.

The delegation also met with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, with whom they shared their concerns at the lack of credibility of the current Iraqi political process, as well as the illegitimacy of the current parliament, a product of an electoral process lacking minimum requirements for free and fair elections. They also raised the case of Iraqi MP Mohammad Al-Dainy who disappeared in Bagdad after his visit to Geneva in October last year, during which he informed Geneva-based organisations about the situation of human rights in Iraq.

A meeting with Geneva-based human rights NGOs and peace foundations was also organised, with whom the delegation discussed their concerns about the human rights violations in Iraq, and requested they work on the situation in Iraq and for the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Iraq to be re-instated.

The delegation also met with the Swiss Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, where they requested a more active role of Switzerland, as a facilitator, in bringing an end to the crisis in Iraq.

A meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross was also held, during which the delegation exchanged views on the humanitarian situation in Iraq, particularly that of detainees.

A meeting was arranged with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, where the delegation expressed their concerns at the plight of Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries, as well as the problem of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The delegation also met with a representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to discuss specific human rights violations which they have documented in Iraq as well as the overall human rights situation.