Feel free to forward the statement to those who share the concern below. The statement will be forwarded to media outlets around the world, government representatives, UN Officials, and the investigative arm of the ICC among others once we obtain a significant body of signatures. Please forward this at least five times and we'll quickly have 50,000 signatories in a matters of days.
Sincerely,
Andrew N Rubin Asst. Professor of English Georgetown University
THE ASSASSINATION OF IRAQI INTELLECTUALS
Even after the 'transfer of authority' the U.S. Government remains in de facto military occupation of Iraq. The idea that the escalation of violence can be put to an end by the 'interim' government, while 140,000 U.S troops remain in control of major Iraqi cities like Mosul and Baghdad, is far from the reality on the ground.
Overlooked by the U.S. Press is the escalating assassination of Iraqi academics, intellectuals, and lecturers. More than 250 college professors since April 30, 2003, according to the Iraqi Union of University Lecturers, have been the target of assassination. Among the 250 professors assassinated to date include: Dr. Abdul Latif Mayah of Baghdad's Mustansiriya University, Dr. Nafa Aboud, a Professor of Arabic Literature at the University of Baghdad; Dr Sabri al-Bayati; a Geographer at the University of Baghdad, Dr. Falah al-Dulaimi, Assistant Dean of College at Mustansariya University; Dr. Hissam Sharif, Department of History of the University of Baghdad; and Professor Wajih Mahjoub of the College of Physical Education.
Whoever is responsible for these targeted assassination, the U.S. and its Coalition of Allies (the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, the Ukraine, the Netherlands, Australia, Romania, Bulgaria, Thailand, Denmark, El Salvador, Honduras, Japan, Norway, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Portugal, Latvia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Albania, Moldova, New Zealand, Macedonia, Canada, Estonia, and Kazakhstan)-all of them commanding and controlling the ongoing de facto occupation of Iraq--bear an international responsibility and obligation to protect civilians living under occupation and who are protected by the 4th Article of the Geneva Convention.
The Geneva Convention, which the U.S. and others nations have signed without reservation, holds all occupying authorities responsible for the condition pertaining to the lives of Iraqi intellectuals, professors, and civilians of all types, including the further undermining of the already sanctioned and utterly destroyed system of education in Iraq. We, the undersigned, deplore the killing of professors, intellectuals and other civilians, and urge a full Congressional investigation into the circumstances that led to the ongoing, systematic and targeted assassination of Iraqi intellectual, academics, and professors. According to Union of Iraqi Lectures, if "the stream of assassinations" continue, Iraqi Colleges and Universities will be left without a qualified teaching staff.
Sincerely,
Andrew N. Rubin Georgetown University Assistant Professor of English