Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

“We’re black and white”

As expected the people of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne with a reputation the world over for their friendly attitude and tolerance took to the streets of Newcastle today with a very simple but strong message to Pegida, “we’re black and white”. This also happens to be the colours of Newcastle United Football Club who are well respected for their work against racism and promoting tolerance for diversity.

Pegida, which stands for Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West chose the north-east city to promote what critics see as an Islamophobic, racist and anti-immigration agenda that was well and truly kicked out by Geordies. They were joined by supporters from all over the UK and further afield, who made their voices heard showing fascist Pegida the red card.

The political party which attracts right-wing and far-right groups was founded in Dresden by Lutz Bachmann. According to the Express, the 42 year old who runs a public relations agency “has a criminal record for sixteen burglaries, drunk-driving, and drug-dealing” and “stepped down as leader of the group when a picture emerged of him apparently posing as Adolf Hitler, but was later re-instated.” Pegida’s first demonstration on 20 October 2014 was said by the organization to draw “only a handful of people” but attendance at weekly meetings grew with one demonstration attended by around 25,000 supporters. However a counter- demonstration attracted a larger crowd of 35,000.

German MEP Arne Lietz pictured here with Newcastle MP Chi Onwurah.

The “Newcastle Unites” rally was opened by local MP Chi Onwurah who earlier told the Evening Chronicle, “Pegida is targeting Muslims in our community and we have to stand up and say it is wrong, Islamaphobia is wrong, anti-semitism is wrong, all racism is wrong, we can do better than this, we have done better than this when we saw off the National Front and the BNP”.

Around 2,000 good natured Geordies (some say nearer 3,000) and demonstrators from afar gathered in the centre of Newcastle in a “face-off” with an estimated 500 from Pegida. Police kept the two groups apart creating a “no- go area” in between to avoid clashes. Among the crowd for Newcastle Unites was journalist Yvonne Ridley, a Muslim revert and Respect MP George Galloway while Paul Western from Liberty GB spoke on the Pegida side.

David Wilson tweeted, “1000s of Geordies marching against Pegida, Newcastle Unites. They Shall Not Pass!!”

Winston Smith’s tweet read, “I’ve been unable to attend due to work commitments but I’ve been fascinated by Pegida’s own stream of their demo. Neo-nazi banners and infighting. Mental.”

There were some clashes and several arrests but local police soon had trouble makers off the streets upholding Newcastle’s reputation as a “safe city” for all whatever race or religion.

Newcastle Unites photos

Councillor Dipu Ahad …not deterred by beheading threats (Mirror)

Councillor Dipu Ahad, a key figure in Newcastle’s Muslim community, refused to be deterred by beheading threats he received after organising the counter-demonstration against Pergida and posted the following on Facebook,

“Special message from Newcastle Unites

Respected brothers and sisters

Get ready for the biggest multicultural, celebration of communities the UK has ever seen

“The Occupation will not remove us from our land, we will stay in it just as the roots of the olive tree”

(Hamdi Abu Rahma)

“More than 700 Palestinian flags were raised today at the 10 year anniversary of Bil’in’s weekly demonstration against Israeli apartheid and the illegal occupation. Palestine, occupied West Bank, February 27, 2015,

Today over 1,000 Palestinian, Israeli and international activists commemorated ten years of popular resistance in the West Bank hamlet of Bil’in. Villagers and their supporters protested Israel’s illegal occupation and settlements. Ten were injured and four were arrested–Hanan Shalabi from Tulkarem, Abdallah Radi from Abu Dis, and two Israeli activists–during a march to the Apartheid separation wall Israel constructed on Bil’in’s agricultural lands.

Mohamed Mansour, 14, was critically wounded after the Israeli army struck him with live fire in the leg. Nine more were injured with rubber bullets. All of those arrested were also beaten by soldiers.”

Images of Bil’in from Hamde Abu Rahma

Links…read the history of resistance in Bil’in,

“A Decade of Civil Disobedience in my West Bank Village”

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.644196

“Roots Run Deep. Life in Occupied Palestine” is a creation by Hamde Abu Rahma, a Palestinian photo-journalist, activist and author. He shows the living and resistance of the Palestinian people in expressive and emotional images!
You can order your copy of “Roots Run Deep” here,
http://hamdeaburahma.com/my-book/

“Hamde I pay tribute to your strength, courage, wonderful spirit and positivity, never giving up and all those who support Bil’in and the Popular Resistance movement!”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

UNAMA working to build awareness, prevent torture (image Khamaa Press)

The treatment of conflict-related detainees in custody is a contentious issue. In recent years torture in some countries has become so widespread it is normalized by certain elements of society. These are the “torture apologists” that believe physical and psychological abuse to be justified, an ideology often propped up by the state though this is played down in public, even denied.

It is essential that all reports of alleged torture are fully investigated and detainees allowed access to lawyers, medical staff trained in identifying and documenting torture and independent human rights advocates.

No matter what alleged crime is levelled at a detainee or conviction established, a fair legal process must be followed that does not include human rights violations. Lately, there are concerns that even well established human rights organizations are refusing to examine some allegations of torture dismissing accusations as “propaganda” in Taliban cases without even bothering to check further. So called “campaigners” have openly stated that insurgents have no rights therefore practicing a “selective” form of human rights. This is unacceptable. They must ensure as far as possible that the state leads by example working within the law or governments and state authorities not only lose all moral credibility but in the worst case scenarios become torturers and terrorists themselves.

Release of UNAMA report update on torture 

Detainees report having fingernails pulled out

In 2004, United Nations Security Council mandated the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) “to support the establishment of a fair and transparent justice system and to work towards strengthening the rule of law.” The work of UNAMA includes a mandate to improve human rights in relation to the justice and prison sectors within the country. UNAMA’s two earlier reports on detainee treatment found the following,

“compelling evidence that many conflict-related detainees UNAMA interviewed had experienced torture and ill-treatment during arrest and interrogation in numerous detention facilities run by the National Directorate of Security (NDS) and Afghanistan National Police (ANP).”

The organization has now released a further publication entitled, “Update on the Treatment of Conflict-Related Detainees in Afghan Custody: Accountability and Implementation of Presidential Decree 129”. The report identifies that 790 detainees were interviewed from February 2013 to December 2014 with 35% indicating torture or ill-treatment during incarceration, some 278 cases. There has been some progress, a 14 percent decline in the last two years regarding the number of detainees reporting abuse at the hands of government and military forces. Worryingly 105 children were included in the report, of whom 44 were said to have experienced ill-treatment.

The report includes statements from detainees themselves, the following are 6 case examples of the suffering they endured at the hands of a number of different bodies,

Torture case example 1

“I was taken to NDS Department 124. They started beating me. They kicked me with their boots and they punched me on the first day. On the second day, they also beat me but this time with a water pipe for about two hours. On the third day, they used a machine on my sexual organs. It was like a clip or pliers and they used it to squeeze my sexual parts till I cried. After this, I made a confession I was a Talib. I was scared because they threatened they would destroy my sexual organs. I just said anything and they wrote it down and I put my thumb prints on the papers. I thought I might die if they destroyed my sexual organs.” Detainee 161, NDS Department 124, July 2013

Torture case example 2

“NDS people took me directly to the NDS Farah city branch. There I was beaten with a cable for half an hour and they accused me of being a Talib and being involved in a murder case. They beat my body cruelly and told me to confess. During the interrogation they also had two electric wires which they used on my body until I became unconscious. I forcibly confessed that I was involved in the person’s killing. Then I was transferred to the NDS provincial facility, they again slapped me and one of them choked me four times. They wanted me to confess my membership of the Taliban but I denied this. They threatened me to death if I did not confess and so I did.” Detainee 252, NDS Farah, June 2014

Torture Case example 3

“ANP arrested me and took me to a police station in Herat city. I was blindfolded and taken to a room where they kicked me and forced me to lie down. They put wires on my toes and gave me electric shocks. I felt pain in my chest and in other parts of my body, as if someone was beating me with a stick. Later I was taken to the Counter-Terrorism Unit at ANP headquarters. At around 10 pm I was again blindfolded and taken to a room where they again made me lie down. I was given electric shocks. They stuffed something in my mouth so that I could not speak, and they beat me. A second group beat me with electric wire and pipes on the soles of my feet. This lasted until 7 a.m. Once, the chief of the Counter-Terrorism Unit took out his pistol and told me: ‘Confess or I’ll beat you!’ On the morning of the third day they pulled off one of the nails of my left hand and two toe nails. I told them that I would confess anything they wanted and my confession was videorecorded.” Detainee 329, ANP Herat, April 2014

Torture case example 4

Afghan National Police (ANP) arrested me and some of my relatives and friends. They took us to the Counter-Terrorism Unit and asked me if I had weapons. I told them I did not. An officer of the Counter-Terrorism Unit told me that I had committed terrorist acts. I told him this was not the case and that I was a simple worker. The more I said I was not involved, the angrier they got and beat me with cables on the soles of my feet. I was also given electric shocks. They put wires on my toes and they used a handle to increase the voltage. I could not breathe during the shocks, and afterwards I could not walk any more. The same group of people did this to me three times. Someone also pressed my throat with his hands, and this is why I feel pain. Among those who tortured me were some men in police uniforms and others in civilian clothes.” Detainee 330, ANP Herat, August 201418

Torture Case Example 5

“The NDS took me to a room in the basement, laid me down with my back against the floor and two persons were holding my feet up. Then one of the NDS personnel, even without asking any questions, began hitting on the soles of my feet with a pipe. They were saying that I was a Taliban and I must confess. I denied. The beating lasted for about 15 minutes. The next day, they took me back to the same room. One of the investigators put his feet on my genitals and pressed very hard. It was very painful. He strongly slapped me on my face five times, kicked and punched me a number of times all over my body (head, back, legs). He also threatened to give me electric shocks if I did not confess I was a suicide attacker. I denied it but he wrote it down in my statement and forced me to sign it. After that they did not interrogate me anymore.” Detainee 260, NDS Department 1, November 2013

Torture Case example 6

“I was arrested by ALP because they accused my brother of being a Talib. They took me to the ANP station in a district in Kandahar province. During my first night there the ANP village commander and 15 other ANP men beat me with cables. They pulled and squeezed my testicles until my urine had blood. They kicked me in the stomach. Then they gave me pen and paper and ordered me to testify against my brother. About ten days later I was given electric shocks on my feet three times, using power from a wall socket. Altogether I spent three weeks in ANP detention in this district. When I was transferred to the detention facility at ANP headquarters in Kandahar torture marks were still visible on my body, yet the detention authorities only gave me medicine but took no other action.” Detainee 269, ANP Kandahar, May 2014

The report also details testimony relating to extra -judicial killings. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. stated,“torture is a very serious crime for which there is no justification.”

Recommendations

Prisoners must not be subjected to torture, cruel and degrading treatment (image TOLO News) 

Among recommendations in the report is the importance of establishing a legal framework with which to address torture. Also key, are education on human rights and torture awareness, prevention and discrediting torture in public culture, adequate forensics for identifying victims, guidelines for standard of proof, documenting evidence of abuse and a remedy for the victims. Towards the end of the report the following response appears,

“It is not the official policy of the Government of Afghanistan to implement torture and ill-treat detainees in order to obtain information and confessions in detention facilities under its control. Some of the incidents mentioned in the UNAMA report are not correct, while some of them could be due to individual violations by officials and personnel of the security and judicial organs. Acknowledging some problems in this regard, the Government of Afghanistan is committed to eliminating torture and ill-treatment and to develop a plan at a senior level and with the cooperation of relevant organs, for a specific program to prevent reoccurrence of such acts, which are against human rights values, in the detention facilities of the Government of Afghanistan.”

UNAMA Afghan torture report update can be read in full on the following link,

Click to access 25_Feb_2015-UNAMA-Detention-Report.pdf

Recent abuse not covered in the report and gaps in research

Islamic Emirate (Afghan Taliban) regularly highlight alleged human rights abuses in the field, in custody and against civilians,  see recently released article concerning the Arbaki (local police) as an example. They stated,

“A new era of suffering and torture was initiated in the already miserable life of our ordinary countrymen when the notorious Arbakism dubbed “Local Police” process was launched by General David Petraeus four or five years ago. These Arbaki militiamen are mostly those malicious, corrupt, addicted and way layers who are rejected by the society due to their delinquencies as they do not waver from committing any felony or brutality.” (See following link for more information on alleged abuses)

“The Odd Silence of the Media Against the Brutalities of Arbakis (local police)”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/afghanistan-the-odd-silence-of-the-media-against-the-brutalities-of-arbakis-local-police/

Retaliation attacks incited by state torture, extra judicial killing

Peshawar Army School attack (Pakistan) carried out to avenge torture, unlawful killings of young men in custody in the weeks before massacre

What is often not addressed when researching cases of torture is the link between state violence and insurgent retaliation attacks. The most disturbing cases of late was in neighbouring Pakistan where in the weeks leading up to the Peshawar Army School attack, where over 140 people including schoolchildren were killed and 122 injured by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP). Taliban had repeatedly warned for army and police to stop alleged torture in custody, extra judicial killings or they would target their families. Battered bodies, showing signs of violent abuse piled up in detention centres with families told not to file complaints for the deaths of mostly younger men. Tragically due to the criminal actions of adults who incited terrorism through torture, the children of Peshawar paid a terrible price as this was a final “trigger” which led to a massacre which could have been avoided.

There is a gap in the research on studying state torture and insurgent retaliation. Researchers are reluctant to “rock the boat” due to the criminal nature of some state agencies involved and their denial thus avoidance of any accountability. Access is difficult because of the sensitive nature of the subject and researchers themselves could end up being subjected to a “shoot the messenger” scenario or find themselves in detention and part of the next study on torture.

Insurgents claim their victims openly in public media statements and on video, so the main focus is usually their brutality while state agencies sometimes extreme in their own behaviour escape scrutiny often through media and public collusion avoiding any accountability.

The following article link reflects on American CIA torture in Guantanano Bay, (Cuba) Abu Ghraib (Iraq) and Bagram (Afghanistan) which has recently inspired the Islamic State (IS) to copycat acts of extreme violence and torture, “like for like” killings in ever more gruesome videos.

Four major incidents of bombings, mass shootings have also been documented in Pakistan where state torture and unlawful killing have directly incited a number of major terrorist attacks. This can be seen in statements and videos before and after incidents. Four are documented but it appears this is only the tip of the iceberg. See following link,

“War on Torture: States crossing the line create a security risk for all”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2015/02/18/war-on-torture-states-crossing-the-line-create-a-security-risk-for-all/

The UNAMA reports has gone some way to addressing torture and ill-treatment of detainees in Afghanistan however it must also look at the wider security risks for society. It is not only those deprived of freedom and violated that suffer but the wider community as insurgents avenge the brutality inflicted on those in custody by carrying out terrorist attacks and “martyrdom” (suicide) operations. It is time this correlation of one inciting another, cause and effect is taken into account!

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

It is a crystal clear fact that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is not only a promoter of peace and security rather it sprung up for this exact purpose and salvaged its nation from insecurity, displacement and the disintegration of the country. The esteemed Commander of the Faithful, may Allah protect him, has repeatedly declared in his Eid statements (twice annually) that the central goals of the Islamic Emirate are ending the occupation, attaining independence, establishing an all Afghan-inclusive Islamic government and peace for our countrymen.

———-

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

One day in Occupied Palestine (24th Feb 2015)

“Its not a good morning, its painful one,
Today morning, people were about to start their day, some are having their morning coffee or tea, others having their breakfast preparing to go to their jobs, others were preparing to go to their schools and universities and so on. Meanwhile, 10s of heavily armed Zionist occupation forces raided Dhaishah Refugee Camp, near Bethlehem, they used tear gas and opened fire in all directions, just like that, they stormed the refugee camp to terrorize the Palestinian citizens, also very determined to steal our lives, to assassinate our humanity, to kill our beloved ones. Some of their bullets penetrated Jihad Alja’fary (18 years old), penetrated his tender body, penetrated his dreams, his hopes, his ambitions, his entity, his world, his future and his being, killed him on the spot, killed all his world, ended his life just because he is a Palestinian, 24 February 2015.”

“Targeting our children, our future,
The Palestinian boys who were kidnapped today at dawn by Zionist occupation forces from occupied Jerusalem, Omar Ghnaim, Aboud Abu Snainah and Mustafa Abu Snainah, they are just children, 24 February 2015”

“Hit and run,
The Palestinian Hasan Abdul Rahman (21 years old) from Edna town, near Hebron, who was hit by a terrorist Zionist colonist today at dawn while he was on his way to work, he was transferred to Hospital suffering moderate injuries, 24 February 2015.”

“Come on for God Sake,
Isn’t that a f……. irony, ironically and hysterically funny isnt it???????, New York jury finds Palestinian Authority liable for “terrorism”, of course against poor Zionist occupation, am deeply touch by the American Judaical system and Justice, they stand with and for the “suppressed”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, their system is working on the other way around, condemns the oppressed and stands and supports the oppressor, the real terrorist, the Zionist occupation who killed only last year about 2500 Palestinian citizens including 530 children is innocent and we are those under occupation for decades are terrorists, WELL, f… your ignorance, f… your unlimited support to terrorism, f… your stupidity, and I piss on your understanding to JUSTICE and HUMAN RIGHTS, 24 February 2015.
Never Yours,
Younes Arar”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Photos continue to surface daily of alleged human rights abuses in Balochistan…. names of activists who provided photographs withheld for security reasons.

“Kill and dump continues in Balochistan and mutilated dead bodies are still being discovered

Another Bullet-riddled dead body of Baloch doctor, Dr Sana Ullah S/o Lal Jan was found dumped in Geshkor, Balochistan (February 18th 2015). The body appeared to have suffered beatings and torture and after that shot to his head. The doctor had allegedly gone to FC camp for the release of his son Saddam Baloch, 21, a serving constable of Balochistan Levies Force (government employee) who was “disappeared” on the 11th February. He was apparently reluctant to go and was captured, two days later his body was found dead. The body of his son was also found mutilated.”

———-

“Yesterday (? February 18th 2015) in Lasbella near Hub, the Pakistani army allegedly raided the house of Mir Dost Baloch and arrested two young men age 19 and 25, after that their crops and house were set on fire and their domestic animals killed with machine guns, one cow managed to escape, its appearance alerting neighbors to their ordeal…”

———-

Wider picture….. “Neither the kill and dump stopped nor any action has been taken against the Pakistani state / Voice Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) Protest Camp Entered 1896 Day, Disappearances And Kill And Dump Still Continues.

More than 20,000 Baloch activists, students, lawyers, teachers, political workers and leaders, human rights campaigner hence people from all walks of life belonging to the Baloch nationality have been forcefully abducted allegedly by the Pakistani army.

The massacre of Baloch people can be expected to continue until international outrage forces it to stop.”

Links

“Interview: Baloch Activists”

http://thediplomat.com/2014/09/interview-baloch-activists/

“Why Pakistan is embarrassed to talk about Balochistan”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/malik-siraj-akbar/why-pakistan-is-embarrass_b_4937159.html

“Long March to protest ‘state terrorism’ and the ‘disappeared’ of Balochistan”

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/long-march-to-protest-state-terrorism-and-the-disappeared-of-balochistan/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Single release with highlight the “Craigavon Two” alleged miscarriage of justice

A record release by Pol MacAdaim a singer songwriter from County Louth will shortly highlight the case of an alleged miscarriage of justice, that of John Paul Wooten and Brendan McConville from Colingdale, Lurgan in County Armagh.

The two men are currently serving life sentences for the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll who was shot dead as he responded to a 999 call in Craigavon, Co Armagh, on March 9, 2009. Carroll was the first police officer in Northern Ireland to be murdered after the Good Friday agreement. Although Wooten (22) and McConville (42) lost an appeal against their convictions last year, supporters have continued to raise their voices.

Standing by the “Craigavon Two”

Gerry Conlon, who was wrongly convicted of the 1974 Guildford IRA pub bombing and released after a long campaign for justice

One man who campaigned tirelessly for the two men was Gerry Conlon who sadly died in 2014 after a period of ill health. Conlon was a member of the “Guildford Four” and spent 14 years in prison after being wrongly convicted of being an IRA bomber. In a Youtube video from 2013 in which he discusses the “Craigavon Two” Conlan said, “

“I read the depositions and read the case papers from the court hearing and it was appalling that two men could be sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a policeman on so little evidence, so little fact” (see link for full statement)

MacAdaim, who penned the song “Justice for the Craigavon Two” is a singer with a social conscience whose latest composition follows on from the “Ballard of Rachel Corrie” about a pro-Palestinian peace activist who died when she was mowed down by an Israel Defense Forces armoured bulldozer in Rafah in 2003. It is hoped that the message in the new lyrics detailing Wooten and McConville will be carried far and wide to draw attention to this controversial case.

Protest songs have a long tradition. In 1976, singer songwriter Bob Dylan drew attention to the case of American middleweight boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter who was imprisoned for murder in a case said to be “racially motivated”. The song is “credited with harnessing popular support to Carter’s defense.” Open Culture reported,

“Carter was tried and convicted twice (once 1967, again in 1976) for homicides that took place in Paterson, New Jersey in 1966 — despite the fact that there were no finger prints or eyewitnesses connecting him to the crime. (Both convictions were later overturned when courts found that the trials were tainted by prosecutorial misconduct.) Before the second trial, Bob Dylan met with Carter in prison and then wrote “Hurricane” a protest song that reached #33 on the Billboard chart” (see link)

Carter was eventually released after 20 years in prison and died in 2014 age 76.

Carlos Latuff, a well-know Brazilian human rights cartoonist sketches his take on the Craigavon Two

Lisburn councillor Angela Nelson, chairperson of the ‘Justice for the Craigavon Two’ group is firmly behind the single and stated, “the song will be launched on March 15th following the BBC Radio 1 official chart show and the group will campaign for the public to download the song over the following week.” Campaigners on twitter will play their part to promote the single using hashtags, #JFTC2 and #DownloadJustice The song will launch on St Patrick’s week to coincide with the fact that “solicitors for both men have lodged their questions to the Supreme Court in London.”

Widow of Stephen Caroll “shocked” at release of protest song

Opposition to the song

There is however some counter- protest. News Letter reported that, Kate Carroll the widow of Stephen Carroll was said to be “totally shocked” at the song release and last year described the case in court as the “biggest, blackest cloud” and “a long, arduous journey”.

On the “Justice for the Craigavon Two” Facebook page, a post read,

“Unionist Politicians are calling for the Justice for the Craigavon Two song to be banned, the mayor of Craigavon has contacted the BBC and iTunes calling for freedom of speech and the right to protest to be overturned.”

Councillor Nelson pointed out, “what we are doing is not to add to her (Kate Carroll’s) grief, but nobody got justice that day.”

Power of the protest song

In her article “Return of the Protest Song“ Salalishah Tillet an associate professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania wrote in “Time” magazine of the revival and importance of this art form in focusing the public on the issues of the day. Tillet found that stirring lyrics of injustice can galvanize millions at short notice through the power of social media and states,

“young musicians, some famous, others grassroots are finding their role in this movement through a simultaneous revival and redefining of the protest song tradition.

In the immediate hours after the Ferguson grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson, hip hop artist Killer Mike’s speech publicly rebuking and mourning the death of (Michael) Brown went viral”

An article in the Telegraph gives a link to the 10 Best Protest Songs listed as follows:

1) Ballad of Joe Hill, 1936

2) Strange Fruit, 1939

3) This Land is Your Land, 1949

4) We Shall Overcome, 1948

5) Moving on Song, 1963

6) Only a Pawn in their Game, 1964

7) Get up Stand Up 1973

8) Ohio, 1970

9) Born in the USA, 1984

10) Fight the Power, 1989

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/10495205/The-10-best-protest-songs.html

Meanwhile behind bars, Wooten and McConville will no doubt be eagerly awaiting to chart MacAdaim’s progress in his campaign efforts for the prisoners and find out if the public response to “Justice for the Craigavon Two” really will be music to their ears!

Link 

“Craigavon Two suitable scapegoats in wake of killing backlash, say supporters”

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/sep/04/craigavon-two-appeal-pc-stephen-carroll

Website, Justice for the Craigavon Two

http://justiceforthecraigavontwo.com/

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Some media outlets irresponsibly reported that the Islamic Emirate will initiate peace talks with America in Qatar today and has sent envoys to Qatar.

We strongly reject this claim. There is no plan of any such talks with any party at our office in Qatar and these rumors have no bases.

There are no new changes in the policy of the Islamic Emirate regarding negotiations and neither has the Islamic Emirate yet taken a serious stance on this issue. Afghanistan is still under occupation, there are thousands of foreign troops currently present and operating inside Afghanistan, the Kabul administration has a security pact with America, is embroiled in corruption, is encouraging anti-Islamic activities and stresses on the continued presence of foreign invaders.

Zabihullah Mujahid

Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan

30/04/1435 Hijri Lunar

30/11/1393 Hijri Solar                    19/02/2015 Gregorian

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.

Hijra… migration or journey… 

The following post contains a blog I was sent today allegedly written by an aspiring “jihadist” about to embark on his “hijra” (migration) to Syria. Historically, hijra refers to the Prophet Muhammad’s migration (622 ce) from Mecca to Medina in order to escape persecution. The date represents the starting point of the Muslim era. Today it may mean a journey to a place which is considered a centre of Islam and could include taking up arms as in Iraq and Syria.

I recently received the following request from a lady regarding a young person who may already be there, no names were given to me of either the author of the blog or the person referred to in correspondence. The message stated,

“hello- I needed some advice. It’s come to light a friend’s son may have gone to Syria- parents think maybe to join IS…….

They are too scared to go to police. I would be grateful if you could advise please. Thank you.”

I did not feel in a position to advise on this difficult issue myself (which has now become criminalized) only to refer the lady to a more knowledgeable source. I put her in touch with a man who had himself travelled to the region so had an idea of the situation on the ground and could point to information of practical value regarding her son. I am aware a son or daughter leaving in this way can cause a huge dilemma for families, whether to seek help by reporting the person’s departure or not. It has become increasingly difficult for young persons that have gone abroad to join the battlefield to return home if they so wish. Families are afraid if they report loved ones leaving, their child will be punished in the event of coming back to the UK causing friction in relationships and possibly the wider community.

It is with this in mind, I have published a young man’s feelings on leaving for Syria and also a list of articles and resources exploring the complexities of foreign fighters abroad and if considering returning.

“Day of Hijra”

“…And then comes the day, when you make hijra for the sake of Allah and you can’t tell your mum where your going, you go to visit her…its late, you are feeling sad, you sit with her, your mind working hard, trying to work out a way to explain to her, but you can’t.

You ask her to make dua for you, but you make it out its a general dua and that Allah protects you. You want to ask her to forgive you for all the hardship you may have caused, all the suffering, all the times you neglected her, but you are worried you would give away your plans.

You normally do the shopping for her in the house, and she asks you to get some items for her, and you say no problem but you know you will be leaving in a few hours in the night.  That moment being a hard moment, probably one of the hardest moments you have faced, that this maybe the last time you see your mother, you make a promise that you know you will not fulfill. It eats you away, you want to cry, you want to scream,  you want to just hug your mother for the last time .You stand up, you tell her you are leaving, she acknowledges you but she thinks she will see you tomorrow bringing the shopping.

You know this is it, there’s no changing the times, you pause wanting to say something but you cant, you want to hug her but you can’t, tear rolls down your eyes, you turn to your side so she doesn’t see, you say salaam, she responds, you pause. You walk out the room, you walk out the house, you leave the town, you leave the country…”

-Tweets From a Mujahid who left Britain and came to Syria! (Feb 15 2015 / 26 4 1436 )

End

20 Links and Resources exploring Foreign Fighters in Syria

(image Reuters)

1) “Western foreign fighters in Syria”  The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence (ICSR) 

“ICSR is engaged in an expansive study of foreign fighters participating in the Syrian conflict. In particular, this project focuses on fighters from North America, Europe, and Australasia. The primary focus of our research is to explore, understand, and explain what motivates young men to become foreign fighters. Why do they go? How do they get there? What do they do? And will they pose a threat to the West?

Using pioneering social science methods, we have developed an extensive database of several hundred fighters, monitoring their social media footprint. We speak to fighters and interview them to learn more about their experiences. Finally, we combine these approaches with practical fieldwork, travelling to Turkish/Syrian border towns and interviewing fighters there.

The outgrows of this project have already informed policy in the European Union, United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, United States, and Australia.”

http://icsr.info/projects/western-foreign-fighters-syria/

2) “Iraq and Syria: Who are the foreign fighters?” (BBC) 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29043331

3) “Jihad, Syria and social media, how foreign fighters have documented their war” 

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/video/2014/apr/15/jihad-syria-social-media-video

4) “Syria: Sky News gains access to British jihadists” 

http://news.sky.com/story/1183820/syria-sky-news-gains-access-to-uk-jihadists

5) “Syria: Britain’s new war on terror” (Moazzam Begg, CagePrisoners)

http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/opinion-editorial/item/7589-syria-britain%E2%80%99s-new-war-on-terror

6) “CAGE on Channel 4 News discussing British fighters in Syria” 

http://www.cageprisoners.com/our-work/interviews/item/7646-cage-on-channel-4-news-discussing-british-fighters-in-syria

7) “Special report: Interview with British jihadists and what you won’t read in the tackling extremism in the UK report”

http://londonprogressivejournal.com/article/view/1682/special-report-interview-with-british-jihadis-and-what-you-wont-read-in-the-tackling-extremism-in-the-uk-report

8) “Britons in Syria: At home with Syria’s British jihadis”

http://www.channel4.com/news/britons-in-syria

9) “Middle East: From a private school in Cairo to ISIS killing fields in Syria”

10) “Greenbirds: Measuring Measuring Importance and Influence in Syrian Foreign Fighter Networks”

Click to access ICSR-Report-Greenbirds-Measuring-Importance-and-Infleunce-in-Syrian-Foreign-Fighter-Networks.pdf

11) “Schoolgirl jihadis: The female Islamists leaving home to join ISIS”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/29/schoolgirl-jihadis-female-islamists-leaving-home-join-isis-iraq-syria

12) “British women joining jihad in Syria” 

13) “Women of the Islamic State: A manifesto on women by the Al-Khanssaa Brigade” (translated by Quilliam foundation)

Click to access women-of-the-islamic-state3.pdf

14) “European jihadists: It ain’t half hot here, mum”

http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21614226-why-and-how-westerners-go-fight-syria-and-iraq-it-aint-half-hot-here-mum

15) “Canada is not safe: New video message from Canadian jihadist with Islamic State” (now deceased)

https://activist1.wordpress.com/2014/12/07/canada-is-not-safe-new-video-message-from-canadian-jihadist-with-islamic-state/

16) “German foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq” (Combating Terrorism Centre)

https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/german-foreign-fighters-in-syria-and-iraq

17) “France 24 Exclusive: “Confessions of a French jihadist in Syria”

http://www.france24.com/en/20140212-france-24-exclusive-syria-french-jihadist-foreign-fighter-confessions/

18) “Police betrayed me” says mother of imprisoned British jihadist

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/06/yusuf-sarwar-mother-british-jihadist-police-betray-syria

19) “UK terror fears: My jihadist son returned from Syria mentally scarred – now he is being ignored”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/uk-terror-fears-my-jihadist-son-returned-mentally-scarred–now-he-is-being-ignored-9986669.html

20) “12 years for British jihadist” 

http://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/national/12-years-for-british-jihadist/vp-AA94E6t

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad. She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.