CPTnet
November 19, 2003
IRAQ: Campaign to ensure justice for Iraqi detainees

Since July 2003, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) Iraq has been following
the cases of numerous Iraqis detained by US forces. Often these detentions
have involved acts of violence, including the following:

--house raids using excessive force against unarmed civilians;

--theft and destruction of personal property;

--lack of legal representation or clear judicial process for detainees;

--mistreatment, including torture of detainees during interrogation and in
prison camps

--withholding of information about detainees' whereabouts and well-being
from the detainees' families and/or Iraqi and international human rights
organizations.

These actions are violations of Iraqis' human rights according to
international law and fuel violent responses which endanger the lives of the
Coalition soldiers who occupy Iraq.

CPT Iraq is working in partnership with Iraqi community leaders and human
rights organizations to publicize the stories of Iraqi detainees and their
families. In addition, CPT Iraq workers meet with US officials in the
Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to ask for changes in these detention
policies. CPT Iraq also accompanies families of detainees in
search of information about, and justice for, their loved ones.

CPT Iraq asks its North American supporters to participate directly in this
campaign by raising awareness in their communities about the plight of Iraqi
detainees, and by contacting legislators and media. We know that
communications by people of faith to national leadership via delegations,
faxes and letters makes a significant difference.

CPT asks its constituents to do the following:

- Write officials asking for an end to excessive force in detaining Iraqis
accused of crimes and a guarantee of due process for Iraqi detainees as
provided for under international law

-Visit their Members of Parliament during the current Canadian Parliamentary
recess asking for the same

-Pray for the safety and health of Iraqi detainees, their families,
Coalition soldiers and officials who carry out the detentions of Iraqis.

-Post Iraq detainee stories on bulletin boards

-Share testimonies with the media

Names and Addresses:

For names and addresses of legislative and executive officials in Washington
please consult http://congress.org/congressorg/home/

We know that people are also being detained in Canada under the cover of
"national security," using secret evidence and without due process or public
scrutiny (see http://www.homesnotbombs.ca/secrettrials.htm) Canadian
officials listed below deserve attention.

Hon. Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
House of Commons, Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
HE Paul Cellucci, Ambassador, Embassy of The United States of America, 490
Sussex Dr., Ottawa ON K1N 1G8