Events

What Now for Iraq?

Saturday 10th April 2010
10:30am to 4:30pm

A one day conference organized by WSIUI (Women Solidarity For Independent & Unified Iraq)

Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL

Sponsored by Iraq Occupation Focus. For more information, see: www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk

Lunch (vegetarian and non vegetarian) and refreshments will be served

All Welcome!

Iraq is moving towards a neo-colonial era of indirect rule. This is based on the Anglo and US - Iraq Status of Forces Agreement and the long-term US “strategic framework”, to establish “cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and security fields”. A situation similar, in many aspects, to the British neo-colonial rule in the aftermath of signing the 1930 treaty.

The conference will address the recent developments identifiable in the neo-colonial era especially through key areas of human rights, gender, damaged environment, the effects of the use of unconventional weapons, and cultural cleansing. It concludes by addressing the highly important issue of what should be done to establish justice for Iraq.

The Speakers:

Mundher Al Adhami. Researcher on cognitive and professional development at Kings College London, with a number of school textbooks, articles and manuals on advanced pedagogy for teachers of mathematics; writer on Iraqi issues in English and Arabic; member of the follow-up committee of the Arab-Islamic Conference; member of the Iraqi National Foundation Congress.

Dirk Adriaensens Coordinator of SOS Iraq, an organization that campaigned against the sanctions imposed on Iraq (1990-2003). He is also a member of the executive committee of the BRussells Tribunal, an international network of intellectuals, artists and activists who denounce and organize against the logic of permanent war promoted by the American government and currently targeting the Middle East. The Brussells Tribunal launched the World Tribunal on Iraq and it continues to serve as a bridge between the intellectual resistance in the Arab World and Western peace movements. The BRussells Tribunal initiated the global campaign against the assassinations of Iraqi academics.

Sawsan Al Assaf, Ph.D. Lecturer in Political Science, University of Baghdad. She was a visiting fellow to various Arab and European universities, and lectured at LSE, NUI, the Irish Centre for Human Rights, Galway, Republic of Ireland, the International Centre for Future Strategic Studies, Cairo and the Centre for Gender Studies, Un of London. She is a founding member of the International Committee for Solidarity with Iraqi Academics (Qatar), and a member of Arab Association for Political Science (Cairo). She published two books and many articles and research in her field.

Said Boumedouha Received his first degree in history from Algiers University (Algeria), then M.A and Ph.D from Birmingham University (UK). He has been working as Researcher at Amnesty International (Middle East Programme) for almost 20 years, covering a number of countries, including Iraq. In 2006 he spent one year in Darfur working with the UN as Child Protection Advisor.

Julie Flint worked for the Guardian and ABC News in Lebanon from 1983 to 1990 and has covered the region intermittently ever since. She remained in West Beirut throughout the hostage crisis of the 1980s and won six awards in Europe and the United States for her coverage in that period. From 1990-1992 Flint was a London-based correspondent for the Observer, focusing on the Middle East and the Horn of Africa.
In a 35-year career, Flint has worked, in newspapers, radio and television, in more than 20 countries on four continents. Since 1998 she has been a freelance journalist based in London and Beirut. She is co-author of Darfur: A Short History of a Long War .

Lindsey German: Lindsey German has written extensively on women’s issues, most recently Material Girls (2007). She is convenor of the Stop the War Coalition and is currently writing a book on women and war. Co author of the Manifesto for 21st Century Feminism.

Salah Hashimi a practicing lawyer, he was born in Baghdad Iraq. He moved permanently to the United Kingdom over 20 years ago. He started to practice law in 1998 by represented numerous Iraqi asylum appeal cases. He has since 2003 been also involved in writing and speaking about the lack of respect and profound damage caused to international law and relations by the dubious decision to invade a sovereign nation.

Nofa Khaduri: Reader of Middle Eastern politics at School of Oriental and African Studies.

Sana Al-Khayyat PHD : Sociologist, author Honour And Shame “Women in Modern Iraq"1991 Saqi books. Co-writer ‘Iraq since the Gulf war’ 1993 Zed Press. Co-writer ‘Arab Society and Culture’ 2009 Saqi books. Has extensive experience in building community support organizations, worked and still works in the front line of supporting asylum seekers.

Henriette Alkhouri, BSC.  Born in Mosul/Iraq. Studied Pharmacy in Baghdad , worked briefly there, left to live in Britain in 1975. Currently working to campaign for and support of women and children in Iraq under occupation.

Sabah Al Mukhtar: International Law Lawyer. President of the Arab Lawyers Association (UK) Specialist on UN-Iraq relationship, Oil affairs, Business, Economic policies and Risk analysis.  Practiced law in Iraq and in the United Arab Emirates as legal adviser to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company until 1980.  Legal consultant in England advising on Arab and Islamic Law. He is also an Independent analyst on Arab affairs.

Nawal Zangana:  PhD in Geology, Worked in Mosul University and University of London and has few Scientific publications. Founding Trustee of International Action for Iraqi Refugees.

Mike Phipps: Activist. A founder member of Iraq Occupation Focus and is joint editor of its fortnightly electronic newsletter. He is Chair of Brent Stop the War and of the Anti-War Commission of the Labour Representation Committee (Chair: John McDonnell MP).

Professor Zuhair Al Sharook, BSc, PGCF, PhD. Born in Mosul Iraq, BSc in Zoology Mosul University 1969, PhD in Physiology University of Newcastle upon Tyne 1975.  Professor of Physiology since 1989, Author of 3 Books. Dean of the Education College, Mosul University from (1989-2000) Dean of the Science College, Mosul University (200-2001) President of Mosul University, 2001- till the occupation. Anatomy and Physiology Tutor Westminster adult Education Service.

Nidhal Al Tabtabaie: Chief Engineer in the Iraqi ministry of oil 1984 until 2006. Active opponent of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and took active part in humanitarian missions in the so called hot zones in Baghdad. She arrived in the UK in 2007

Nicholas Wood MA, RIBA, FRGS Architect who has worked in Baghdad, author of ” War Crime or Just War? The case against Anthony Blair”. Joint Secretary to The Blair War Crimes Foundation, to letter to UN on deformed Baby Crisis in Fallujah , to the letter from 98 doctors to PM on failure of children’s health provision in Iraq, and letter from Tony Benn to Kofi Annan in 2005 .

Haifa Zangana: Author and Activist. Haifa Zangana’s recent books are ” Dreaming of Baghdad” and ” City of widows; an Iraqi woman account of war and resistance”.  She has worked as an adviser for the United Nations Development Programme, writing a report on The rise of women in the Arab world. She is a founding member of the International Association of Contemporary Iraqi Studies (IACIS).