Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog

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I once encountered some people who tried to recruit me for terrorism.

They told me that I need to go and fight against ‘our’ enemies and those that support them. I said that I do not want to join organisations that have a history of bombing and killing and torturing innocent civilians.

They told me they only target ‘military’ or ‘economic’ targets, and that sometimes civilians can be targeted in wars for the greater good, and that civilians are not always innocent and sometimes harbour or provide support for ‘our’ enemies, even if indirectly. They argued that they wouldn’t do it normally, but sometimes it is ‘necessary’.

I disagreed strongly, but asked to what purpose they fight? They said that war is necessary to spread their beliefs and way of life to the world, where all people should live under their system, and be ‘saved’ by it.

Again I disagreed strongly and responded that no one should be forced to live according to beliefs and systems they do not believe in. They replied that it is a great virtue and honour to become martyrs for such a cause, and that I should join them to fight, and if need be die for the cause – and I will be honoured as a martyr. I was disgusted by their obsessive warlike culture demanded by their cause.

Finally, they argued that it was a duty to fight for the defense of ‘our people’. I argued that, how is the defense of ‘our people’ served by attacking far off countries and their people?
They didn’t understand, and persisted – so I left them.

…that’s the last time I visit a British Army Recruitment Centre.
[Abdullah Al-Andalusi]

Photo … coalition air strike, Afghanistan 2011 (CNS)

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

Guest post from Centre for Research and Security Studies

Summary: In order to bring the youth of Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA)  into the social, political and economic mainstream, a draft of FATA Youth Policy (FYP) has been developed by the FATA Secretariat on the directives of Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In this regard consultative workshops and seminars are being held with different stakeholders including tribal youth, journalists, lawyers, minorities and tribal women representatives to ensure that the draft reflects the desires and wishes of FATA Population. Their recommendations shall be incorporated in the final draft. It also recommends promotion of peace, interfaith harmony, education and youth encouragement in all fields. Its implementation will be really a big challenge for the concerned authorities and quarters, we are looking forward to the approval of FYP.

Saima Gul: In previous segments of Jwande Jazbeâ program, we talked about empowerment of FATA youth and their role in development and prosperity of the country. We also discussed their social, political and economic problems in tribal belt. In order to guide the tribal youth in right direction and bring them into the political and economic mainstream, the government of Pakistan is going to implement a revised draft of FATA Youth Policy (FYP) after consultation with relevant stakeholders and Fata youth and representatives, since the consultation process is vital. Mr. Wajid Mohmand shall further inform the listeners about it?

Wajid Mohmand: As we know youth are 60pc of the total population of the country. FATA Youth Policy (FYP) was first introduced in 2008 and then in January 2011 with slight, but necessary changes. So the draft comes on the heels of a series of consultation meetings and seminars based on the original draft. The present Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Eng. Shaukatullah announced FYP in 2013, which is still in consultative process. The draft has proposed working on different sectors including education, health, employment, empowerment through political and social mediums etc.

The policy is aimed to bring tribal youth as par with other youth of the country in terms of education and development.  Scenario is tense and complex throughout Fata for last ten years, bringing routine life, educational and business activities to a standstill. There is no such effective policy through which job opportunities could be ensured to tribal inhabitants except Fata Development Authority, which is providing skill development training to tribal youths that is insufficient to make them able to stand on their own feet and move them from poverty and starvation to self-reliance by getting any reasonable job.

This sort of training doesn’t suit to B.A and master level students. I suggest that first of all the central government should identify professions or income generating opportunities in Fata. These training centers have to be setup in cities for their exposure and learning on modern methods. In absence of unfavorable environment and opportunities, they could not enhance their capacities.

Khan Baba: If given the opportunity; they can bring drastic change in their areas.

Saima Gul: Before presenting the policy, it proposed draft needs to be properly discussed at different social forums.

Wajid Mohmand: Our rulers and policy makers sit in air-conditioner rooms enjoying a lavish life. They are unaware about actual problems of the people in less developed areas of the country. Apart from the government, NGOs and corporate sector were supposed to conduct awareness seminars and conferences in FATA and all frontier regions to give an opportunity to the inhabitants to share their views and put forward their suggestions on proposed draft. They would able to know about the policies being formulated for them. The people of Malakand Agency were highly supported by national and international communities, organizations and development sector for their rehabilitation after military operations, but what about FATA, which has reached on the verge of destruction. The War against terrorism is being fought on the region, thus they were the most deserving people for humanitarian and financial aid and cooperation.

Report: A round table meeting regarding FATA Youth Policy (FYP) was held by FATA Secretariat here at Peshawar. The participants including people from different walks of life, male and female students of FATA and relevant stakeholders discussed the proposed draft of FYP. Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Eng. Shaukatullah was the chief guest on the occasion. In this regard, Fata Secretariat Director General Project, Mr. Zahir Shah while talking to this scribe told that in case the policy is adhered in true sense of words, the people can come out of ignorance.

DG Project: Presently the population of FATA is going through an age of ignorance. It is the need of the hour to involve the youth in healthy and constructive activities. We want every youth to be confident, tolerable and capable. These activities will turn them into a useful citizen

Centre for Research and Security Studies

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

History has shown us on many occasions that people from one country have involved themselves with affairs of another country. This could be in the form of medical/financial aid, weapons, manpower and intelligence. Personally, I’ve always supported the ideology of man helping man for righteousness, regardless of colour, race, or religion. The reality is that if we were ever in a civil war or invaded by foreign powers and innocent people were being killed, we would like our voices to be heard and receive help. It’s the simple principle of, ‘Treat others the way you would love to be treated.’ Indeed, war and foreign affairs can be very complex and the vulnerable can be misguided. People may go out to assist and there could be a possibility of a hidden agenda. It could be to gain popularity amongst their peers, get crucial votes at elections, get a foothold in another country and ownership of foreign resources. However, many do it for a genuine humanitarian cause.

The problem and division occurs when an establishment allows one of its groups to freely do as they please and restrict the other when ‘socially’ both groups claim to be doing the same thing. Note the following:

Sam Childers – An American who dedicates his life to rescue children in the war zone of South Sudan. He founded Angels of East Africa, an orphanage in looking after more than 300 children. It is currently the largest in Southern Sudan and is unique in its approach of leading armed rescue missions directly into LRA territory. He himself has taken up arms. He is married with one daughter. He converted to Christianity in 1992 and through his church decided to help those in need. He has also exposed the atrocious acts of the Lord’s Resistance Army. He’s doing great work and helping the innocent by any means necessary. Even if it means he has to get rid of a few people, let’s face it, they won’t be missed. If only you knew what the LRA did to children. Now he’s an American helping and fighting in what are his own words ‘Another Man’s War.’ In 2011 his life and work was portrayed on the big screen in ‘Machine Gun Preacher.’ A must watch.

Now just because he’s American, does it mean that he has to join the army and serve wherever they are? He is free to involve himself in a just cause. He’s a humanitarian and doing what every human should do, he can help whoever he wants. Why must it be dictated to him who he must assist? However, when you get other people doing them same in countries such as Syria, then we all know what they get labelled as.

Israel – Every summer in the Negev desert, hundreds of Jewish teenagers from Britain, Europe, Mexico and America pay to spend nine weeks in a camp saluting, marching, firing guns and otherwise pretending to be soldiers. It is funded by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) – allies of our countries and a military that we financially support. British Jews on their return are subjected to no questions or charges.

“Shooting an M16 gun… physically lying on the land of Israel, learning how to defend it, gave me an immense sense of pride.” Aimee Riese, a London schoolgirl

“There’s an implicit aim to associate a fun experience with the Israeli army” Micah Smith, a British student.

“We’re all fighting for the same thing. “We’re fighting for a Jewish homeland.” Private Allen is one of more than 100 British citizens currently serving in the IDF as lone soldiers.

So who is this ‘Fun’ and ‘Proud’ army? Views will differ, but mine is straight forward. It’s a shame to see the IDF treat the Palestinians the way their ancestors were treated by Adolf Hitler. The IDF have and continue to break UN and International laws. They have imposed an illegal siege on Gaza since 2007 (recognised by UN as illegal). In December 2008 they killed almost 1400 innocent Palestinians, including babies, children and women in air and land attacks. They also used white phosphorus which is forbidden by UN laws and the Geneva Convention, all of which was broadcast on BBC, FOX News and CNN and nobody did anything. It’s all about having the right friends I say. Israel has also implemented a racially segregated bus service, kindergartens, and mainstream media and political voices routinely refers to dark-skinned immigrants as ‘infiltrators’. This hostility has moved beyond legislative brutality, to physical brutality. They continue to demolish Palestinian homes in order to build Jewish settlements again recognised illegally by the UN. I recommend you watch Oscar Nominated ‘5 Broken Cameras,’ truly inspiring.

Western Invasion – Israel possesses nuclear weapons too, so it’s weird that Britain and America haven’t yet invaded it yet. After all, we were told the Iraq war was instigated due to Saddam Hussein possessing Weapons Mass Destruction (WMD) and was a threat to the West. After a decade, the search is still on. America has WMD and has used them. Nobody can forget Nagasaki, Hiroshima and currently Fallujah in Iraq, where thousands of babies are born with deformities. It may be America, but Britain morally and financially supports them. Good way of spending our tax money. So who’s going to put us on trial and hold us responsible for our actions? It seems like the West are exempt on certain issues.

The truth is that only America and its friends can have WMD, invade countries and bomb them into abyss and get away with it. What happened on 9/11 and 7/7 was wrong and I hope every perpetrator, regardless of who they are get the worst possible punishment. However, according to Wikipedia and Western statistics over 300,000 innocent civilians have been killed by British, American and NATO forces, and that’s just an estimate. How is that justified? When questioned, the answer more often than not is its ‘collateral damage.’ The United States is responsible for the greatest amount of bloodshed since World War II. They include Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen and Afghanistan. For years, Washington meddled in Latin America’s internal affairs as though those affairs were its own, installing and overthrowing regimes willy-nilly.

Thanks to people like Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, Bradley Manning, Moazzam Begg and Wiki-Leaks, the world got to know some of the realities of our countries. These people are now seeking asylum, in prison or awaiting trial. The main charge is treason. Keep your mouth shut and play ball you’re a hero and citizen of the year, open your mouth and expose the truth you’re a terrorist and a traitor.

British born Moazzam Begg, arrested on false pretences, has already spent time in Bagram and Guantanamo. He was released in 2005 after being cleared. This man has spent his recent years in helping the helpless and giving a voice to the voiceless. He has also researched and exposed Britain’s involvement in Illegal imprisonment, torture and rendition of prisoners. This didn’t win him any friends, maybe if he exposed some other country. He is currently in prison again and in the middle of a trial. He is charged with terror related offences in Syria. Apparently providing a generator to Syrian refugees is a heinous crime. The work he does and has done in the past is not too different from Sam Childers, one’s a hero and the other a terrorist. I don’t see a movie based on Moazzam Begg ‘coming to a theatre near you’ anytime soon. Moazzam Begg is a well respected and loved individual, and he knows too much, much to the anger of Britain. If the courts sentence him, it will mean going against all the laws and principles the British justice legal system stands for.

Russia and Ukraine – I am not a fan of Vladimir Putin, neither do I agree with his recent actions. However, the reaction so far from the British and Americans is hypocrisy at its best. It is reasonable for them to occupy foreign lands but when Putin called for the annexation of Crimea to Russia the West is screaming bloody murder. At least Russia asked the inhabitants under which sovereign power they wished to live. They want to now impose sanctions on Russia, yet the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians does not cry out to the world — not for sanctions and certainly not for threats of war. Netanyahu is a friend to the West, Putin is a convenient enemy. Israel’s violations of international law are almost never mentioned. The Israeli occupation, more brutal than that of Crimea, is not recognized, and the West does not do a thing to truly bring it to a halt. The United States and Europe even provide it with funding and arms.

They criticised Putin on the whole issue of free expression and with the disgraceful Pussy Riot affair. Yet just a few weeks ago the police came to mosques in Birmingham, England to advise us not to attend a protest for those innocently detained by police. I thought it was our democratic right, the EDL sure make full use of it and have police security all the time. Remember too, Its America that runs Guantanamo, not Russia. It’s not to say Putin should be exempt, but if the West want to be the ‘World Police’, then don’t pick and choose your criminals. Besides, whoever gave them the god given right to police the world is a greater mystery than the Bermuda Triangle.

Spanish and Syrian Civil War – In the late 1930’s, thousands of British civilians went to Spain to fight against the fascist movement. The cause was very important to them as they witnessed many injustices happening and didn’t want to stay silent. The government at the time remained neutral in the matter so the volunteers decided to help their fellow humans. Those who volunteered to fight in the Spanish Civil War did so illegally, but according to them, the concern for humanity and those that were being oppressed was far greater than any legally binding law.

This summer, 26 Yorkshire volunteers will be honoured in a special 75 year anniversary memorial service, and so they should. They were freedom fighters who went to resist a democratically-elected government from being overthrown. Unlike today when the West supported the coup d’etat of the Democratic Egyptian government and ignore the legitimacy of the democratically-elected government in Gaza, Palestine. Some of the British fighters made it back home, some died in Spain. However, they will be remembered by many for their bravery and assistance to a country they were unknown to. Borders and nationality didn’t come in the way of them helping those in need.

Now in the same context, we have Muslims from the West, including Britain that are involved in the Syrian civil war. Nobody can deny that there is a humanitarian crisis. The Assad regime is breaking countless international and UN laws, in response people have gone to deliver medical aid. Britain has admitted to supplying non-lethal aid to rebel groups, finance and aid to refugees and even offered shelter. Countless Muslim charities are on the ground risking their lives and working tirelessly to help the victims of war. Just like the freedom fighters of the Spanish Civil War, Muslims have gone to fight against the oppressive regime. The brutality of Assad’s crimes are recognised and condemned by the international world. Just like Spain, it is illegal for Brits to go and fight, but just like the Yorkshire men, fighting against injustice is more important. Indeed, like in many cases around the world, people will get involved in wrong activities and get radicalised. However, you can’t judge all on actions of few.

There was a case recently when a British Muslim fighter drove a truck full of explosives into a prison in Aleppo, Syria. It was all over the news and it was being condemned by the West. What they didn’t tell you was in that prison were hundreds of civilians who were being tortured, raped and killed by the Syrian army. Now if an American or British soldier did the same in Afghanistan or Iraq, he would have been an instant hero.

Recently many Muslims on return from Syria, whether involved in aid work or training camps, have been detained and sentenced. I consider the IDF a terrorist organisation, the UN recognise that they practice illegal and inhumane activities, so why don’t the British Jews get the same treatment. Britain says Muslims join rebel groups that preach a radical ideology, yet Britain funds and aids them. All a bit confusing if you ask me. Muslim charities have been scrutinised, aid and assets frozen. Yet at the same time UNICEF this week has made an appeal for the children of Syria. This has been approved by the government, but yet Muslims have been told to take it easy on the funds. It’s almost as if to say, ‘Hey Muslims, don’t help the Syrians, we’ll do it, we can’t have the media portraying you as good people, the world would rather see you as radicals.” What kind of message does that send out? The Western media is a very powerful, brainwashing and deceptive outlet.

The case studies can go on for days, but I think we get the idea. I know I could have chosen many other examples, but I thought these were more relevant since we live in this part of the world and it affects many today. They may seem random but they have many things in common. The world is full of hypocrisy, lies, deception and wrongdoers. At the same time there are many great people out there who are willing to put everything on the line for a better world. We need to pick a side quickly before it’s too late.

This world can be a dark place, it’s our duty to shed some light on it. We need to free ourselves, break the shackles, stop believing in everything we hear or see without doing our own research. If you seek the truth, you will have obstacles in your way, but it’s better to stand alone for the truth than sit with the masses like a coward. We need to distinguish the good from the evil. If we judge a group of people by the actions of a few, then we would all be racists, terrorists, fascists, rapists and murderers. If a set of rules is acceptable for one, then it should be acceptable for all and vice versa. History has a tendency to repeat itself and we need to learn from our mistakes. There is enough space on this earth for all of us to live peacefully. We shouldn’t be too proud of our nations and governments that we are blinded to any atrocities they may commit. They will try their best to cover it up and focus our attention elsewhere. Nationality, borders and patriotism shouldn’t stop us from helping one another and fighting against injustice, even if it’s against your own country. We don’t bleed the colour of our flags, we won’t be wrapped in it when we die. Our allegiance is to the greater good.

Abdul Hamid Faruki

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

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Hamza Hassan Bin Dahaman, drone inflicted trauma, a crime against humanity

There is no other word for it… I am outraged at seeing the photo of Hamza Hassan Bin Dahaman, a Yemeni youth so traumatized at witnessing a drone strike that he never recovered from the experience. The image above speaks volumes as do the words of Haykal Bafana, a lawyer friend in the region, who clearly distressed, posted the photo alongside a message stating, “I’ll be offline for the forseeable future. Need time to think, to reflect, and to decide on what’s what.”

The young boy (known as Hassan) had been at the scene of a devastating US drone attack on 5 alleged Al Qaida militants in 2012 in the port city of Shiher, Hadramout province. According to the father, his son was never the same again, diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Omar Abdullah Al Najjar, a friend of Hassan spoke to the the Gulf Times stating,

 Dokku Umarov reported “martyred”

Dokku Umarov, Emir of the Caucasus, leader of Islamist insurgency in the region of Chechnya was reported “martyred” by Kavkaz website, sympathetic to jihadists. An obituary was posted but no details given of his death. The site stated, “Dokku Umarov gave 20 years of his life to the Jihad. Huge working-capacity, softness and consistency earned him love and respect of ordinary Mujahideen. He enjoyed enormous prestige among Mujahideen all over the world. His opinion was listened to. His word was significant for fighting Muslims.”

Umarov (also regarded as Russia’s most wanted man) claimed responsibility for the Moscow, Domodedovo airport bombing (24th January 2011) in which 36 people dead and 180 were injured and the bombings on the Moscow Metro (March 2010) where 39 deaths were reported. He was also alleged to have ordered the bombing of the Moscow to St Petersburg train (November 2009) with 29 fatalities.

Recently Russia was on high alert, a tense time for Putin, fearing attacks during the Winter Olympics at Sochi after Umarov issued a threat to use “maximum force” to disrupt the event which he claimed was “built on the bones of many, many Muslims.” Prior to the Olympics there were three attacks on Volgograd targeting transportation systems.

In 2013, Umarov warned attacks would continue targeting Russia’s ruling regime. He stated, “Caucasus Emirate is only a part of the global Jihad…Peace initiative of the Caucasus Emirate in ceasing military operations on the territory of Russia was interpreted by Moscow as weakness, rather an act of good will… Infidels and apostates had increased their persecution of peaceful Muslims and have increased the numbers of civilians they have killed.”

There were earlier unconfirmed reports of Umarov’s death on 17th January 2013 posted on twitter (one from Peter Bouckaert, Emergency Director at Human Rights Watch) with a video posted a day earlier on the 16th January alleging his demise.

If Umarov was killed prior to the Olympics it could be a reason why predicted attacks on the games failed to materialize. Concentration may have been focused on finding a new leader and official announcement of his death delayed to keep up security pressures on those hosting the Olympics.

Kremlin-backed leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, declared on his blog, “Umarov was killed in a security operation, which I wrote about earlier … Now it is confirmed by the rats themselves.”

Kavkaz provided the following background on Umarov;

“Dokku Abu Usman (Dokku Umarov) went to jihad in 1994, as soon as he learned about the invasion of Chechnya by Russian troops. He gave up his lucrative business in Russia and returned home.

Since then, Dokku Abu Usman was forced to leave Chechnya for several months only once, at the beginning of 2000 due to a severe wound. After treatment, he returned home and continued the Jihad.

After the first Russian-Chechen war of 1994-96, Ichkerian President Aslan Maskhadov appointed Dokku Umarov Secretary of the Security Council. After the martyrdom of Chechen Emir Abdul Khalim Sadullayev in 2006, he became the head of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

In 2007, Dokku Abu Usman raised the banner of monotheism and proclaimed the Caucasus Emirate.

This move was met with hostility by secularists of various types but was unambiguously supported by Caucasus Mujahideen, united under the single banner of Oneness.”

Ali Abu Muhammad new Emir of Caucasus Emirate

Kavkaz also reported that a new Emir of the Caucasus Emirate had been elected by leaders of CE provinces and named him as Sharia Judge, Ali Abu Muhhammad. He appeared on Youtube in combat fatigues, gun by his side, accepting responsibility for his new role but said he felt “unworthy”.

Ali Abu Muhammad stated, “I want to inform you that our brother (Dokku Abu Usman, aka Dokku Umarov) has left this world. Our condolences to his family and the Muslim world. His soul is with the green birds in paradise.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

Playing cricket on the streets of Indian Occupied Kashmir

Frankly I know nothing about cricket (except my grandfather proudly played for the local village team at Greatham, northern England) however I do care about freedom of expression, so to hear that Kashmiri students are being accused of “sedition” for supporting the Pakistani cricket team makes me irate.

The students attending a university in the state of Uttar Pradesh were suspended at the weekend following the Asia Cup match where Pakistan beat India (don’t ask me the scores). They were alleged to have cheered each time an Indian player’s wicket fell, with some shouting “Pakistan, zindadbad” (“long live Pakistan”) which upset locals supporting the Indian team.

Kashmir has long been beset with tensions admit accusations of human rights abuses under  Indian Army occupation and many will see this harsh action threatening sedition (which can carry a 3 year prison term) as yet another attempt to stifle freedom of speech.

Pakistan is known to provide support to Kashmiris and has been accused by India of unlawful acts on Indian territory. So ongoing tensions bubble just beneath the surface in both countries and it doesn’t take much to spill over into something rather more serious.

Students protest over freedom of expression

An organization called Mission Bhartiyam that describe themselves as “a registered group of young professionals working in the fields of peace and harmony, human rights and environment” rose to the defence of the Kashmiri students. A spokesperson released a statement which was forwarded to me saying;

“It has been reported that about 60 Kashmiri students of a private university in Meerut, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University (SVSU) has been expelled for three days for celebrating Pakistan’s victory over India in a recent cricket match.

We strongly condemn this action of the university and consider it to be a clear violation of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution of India. We also believe that arts and sports know no boundaries. Therefore, we condemn this intolerance that was shown by the authorities.

Therefore, we think that this action of the college authorities is arbitrary, autocratic, undemocratic and against the true spirit of the constitution of India and its long traditions.

We demand from the university to withdraw their action of expulsion of the students with immediate effect and to issue an apology to the affected students with the assurance that their respect in the campus will be restored and that they will not be subjected to any form of discrimination.

Our member of Mission Bhartiyam, Mr. Sandeep Mishra, Advocate Supreme Court will also write to the University in this regard”

http://www.missionbhartiyam.blogspot.in/

There were a few humorous moments on twitter which relieved a little of the tension. One young man tweeted me saying, “ aren’t you English, isn’t cricket your national game? Or you invented it? Something like this.” (I wouldn’t know, I guess I should find out.) He appeared rather more concerned about my lack of knowledge on the subject than the fate of the poor Kashmiri students who according to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, “don’t deserve to have charges of sedition slapped against them.”

Rauf Klasra tweeted, “should I expel my son from home who forcibly took me to Lords (UK), waited 4 hours on boundary line just to take Great Tendulkar autograph?” (Even I have heard of Tendulkar).

I imagine the Taliban watching all this with incredulity given their stance on cricket being a distraction away from Islam. Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan had suggested on social media that the Taliban might like to swap their guns for cricket bats and offered to host a match to pave the way for peace talks. Thankfully dialogue has started up again after a postponement but the Taliban have declined the offer, seen as something of a “sticky wicket” or perhaps they fear ball rubbing!

Joking apart, I felt the need  to remind all people of common sense that Honduras and El Salvador actually went to war in 1969 over a game of football and cricket should not act as a flashpoint for violence

http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars1900s/p/footballwar.htm

I prefer to reflect on “cricket for peace” (amazingly this is my second article on the sport) an event organized in October 2013 to bring people together rather than divide. The game and talent hunt in Peshawar  was attended by former cricketer Imran Khan, now Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek –e-Insaf (PTI) party and other well – known sporting personalities. This event was described as an initiative that “will give many young people a focus as they strive towards excellence in the sport. It is a breath of fresh air away from the horrors of conflict and towards a collective activity regardless of race, religion, gender, a community spirit to be enjoyed by all” https://activist1.wordpress.com/2013/10/13/cricket-for-peace-peshawar-fills-with-smiles/

“Cricket for peace” event Peshawar (2013)

Let’s reflect on this statement, secure an apology for the Kashmiri students and get back to “cricket lovely cricket” as the song goes, penned by Calypsonian, Lord Beginner to celebrate West Indies first victory in England in 1950… (There you see, I do know something about cricket).

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

 Migrant workers in Saudi Arabia after a crackdown checking their documents (AFP) 

In recent times amendments have been made to Labour Law in Saudi Arabia to protect the rights of both foreign and Saudi workers, at least that is the theory but is it working in practise? Not according to Farooq Khan who fears that labourers are being left unprotected and wants to highlight what he feels is an unjust system. 

Mr Khan (real name protected) describes himself as a graduate from a middle class family in Pakistan who moved to Saudi with the hope of improving his prospects as he felt there was little chance of achieving this in his home country. He stated, “when it came to the stage that a graduate has zero chance to become a successful person then I decided to prove myself in Saudi Arabia with a ‘do or die’ philosophy of my own and gain my success, by the blessing of God I achieved my goal.”

Khan now works as an accountant for a contracting company but his work life took a turn for the worse when he was accused of sheltering residents (those granted a resident’s permit to work in Saudi) which he strenuously denies. He claims workers were sleeping near to his room and that their resident permits were finished due to their sponsors demanding 5000 to 10000 S.R. (Saudi Riyal) to transfer them to other companies. He was sent to jail for two days but stresses he is not the owner of building where the workers were found and that the “illegals” had their own rent contract with the building owner. After 48 hours he was taken out of custody with the help of his company who supplied paperwork to the authorities explaining his position.

The accountant claims that there is no proof against him, all his papers are legal and though he was only in prison for a short time he is speaking out “for the sake of the poor people” adding “who said slavery is finished!”

Recently, there has been a clampdown on migrant workers from authorities claiming high unemployment, wanting to ensure Saudis are kept in work. They also claim a “black market” in foreign workers. 

With regard to the workers that Mr Khan is accused of sheltering, the amended Labour Law states that an employer should obtain written permission from the worker before transferring him to another place. An employer can ask an employee to work in a different place in emergency situations however the length of time this can be applied should not exceed 30 days in a year. The employer is also required to meet the worker’s transfer and residency expenditure during that period NOT extract money from him or her.

Khan now has some questions for the Saudi government on their amended Labour Law. 

Firstly, he wants to know why the Saudis keep issuing resident visas if, as he read, there is increasing unemployment for Saudis themselves. He argues, if the Labour authorities feel foreign workers are a  problem due to shortage of jobs, they should stop issuing so many visas instead of making life difficult for them. Khan asks, how is it possible in the modern world that the government allows Saudi citizens to take their salaries out of the residents’ pockets?

Secondly, the system is such that those with resident permits are required to pay a minimum 100 US dollars a month cash tax (which is a higher tax than locals) and a yearly renewal fee as well as traffic taxes. As the Saudi government are making good income from residents’ taxes, why are they so afraid that residents transfer money to their own countries?

Thirdly, has the Saudi government noticed that not even 5% of residents want to test out the Labour courts because there is only a 1% chance of benefiting from the courts and this is more by luck than fair judicial process. Because of this, residents prefer to violate the law, not go to court and compromise on their rights. How can these problems be addressed? It is the job of government to review their Labour Law and facilitate residents to uphold their rights. Do the authorities want residents to vacate Saudi for good and lose many hardworking migrants? Khan also made a request to the Saudi government not to torture residents every month with new laws.

Human rights groups have for some time raised concerns regarding how Gulf States treat their foreign workers including Saudi Arabia. Over 9 million of Saudi Arabia’s 28 million inhabitants are foreigners so it is important to protect those that may be vulnerable from exploitation.

Only today Reuters is reporting the death of an expatriate, Egyptian man and 9 others including 4 Yemenis injured at a holding facility for foreign workers near the holy city of Mecca. It is claimed there was an altercation on Sunday at al-Shemaisi where visa irregularities are investigated. Teargas was alleged to have been used against the workers. This would seem like a good time to consider Mr Khan’s concerns.

At this present time, there is no law with regard to the granting of citizenship for foreign workers that have often spent many years of their lives in Saudi. Khan feels that this should also be addressed by human rights organizations.

Last year the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted that Saudi Arabia had rounded up 12,000 Somalis and expelled them to their war-torn and lawless homeland, without giving them any opportunity to ask for asylum.

Khan also raised the case of a Pakistani resident in Al-Kharj who poured gasoline over his body and set himself on fire at a gas station. This act of self immolation was in response to learning that his sponsor had obtained a final exit visa for him. Again this draws attention to the insecure position of a migrant worker. Khan fears that there are thousands of cases concerning human rights violations but many are never reported.

Khan’s parting words to me have already become a reality for some migrants workers, he said, “I am afraid if tomorrow I died in Saudi Arabia, I am sure 100 % nobody will came to know how and why I died there, its a high risk to live in Saudi.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

Shahidullah Shahid (TTP spokesperson) and Taliban Commander Adnan Rasheed

My announcement of a one month ceasefire by the Pakistan Taliban on Twitter was cautiously welcomed by some yesterday as spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid stated, 

“After taking into consideration appeals of religious scholars, the Tehreek-e-Taliban announces a month-long ceasefire in the best interests of Islam and the country.”

Shahid said, “TTP has initiated talks with the government with sincerity and for good purpose,” and confirmed that, “the senior leadership of the Taliban advises all subgroups to respect the Taliban’s call for a ceasefire and abide by it and completely refrain from all jihadi activities in this time period.”

I contacted Mohmand Agency TTP (who accepted responsibility for recent killing of 23 Frontier Corps soldiers). They shared a letter declaring that they were supporting the ceasefire despite the killing of their own men in custody. The attack on FC was claimed to be in retaliation for killing of colleagues while under state supervision.

My ceasefire tweets did however bring a string of abuse from lawyer and “political analyst” Sabena Sidiqi whose reaction was so deluded I was suddenly libelled as a “wicked Mossad agent.” (I dont think Mossad would be too pleased either to find me albeit fictitiously added to their ranks). She wrote “I am in favour of the army, this is my party. Love martial law…. this Goddamn government wants to have talks with TTP it deserves to be booted out again.” I was then referred to as a “two bit floozie” with Pakistan Tehreek -e-Insaf (PTI) party that has supported dialogue with insurgents described as “a party of retarded people led by Im the Dim” (Imran Khan). After accusing the Taliban of being possible “rapists” because she alleged they were linked to RAW (Indian security agency) Sidiqi then said she “hoped there was an airstrike tomorrow to teach these sobs a lesson”.

It is unfortunate that with alarming regularity, political discussions in Pakistan deteriorate to paranoia, conspiracy theories and a distinct lack of logic and also worrying to think that such behaviour could come from a lawyer… I pray for Sidiqi’s poor clients.

The climate of fear is such in Pakistan that few dare criticise the security agencies or the military but if dialogue is to work, all sides must address with honesty allegations of abuse and stop burying heads in the sand. The Taliban tend to declare their killings whereas the state has a tendency to deny any wrongdoing. There does not appear to be any system in place to independently check the welfare of prisoners held by the state and document their concerns so claims of enforced disappearances, torture and unlawful killings are unlikely to be followed up. This must change as abuse by the state only leads to radicalize more of the population. 

Only yesterday TTP made a further allegation which read, “Shaheed Qare Abdurrahman who belonged to BODI Cor Area of Mechani Mohmand Agency. He has been captured by security forces 5 years ago. On first March he was killed ruthlessly by Pakistani forces in Ghalanai jail”. Here is the photo below so from this information surely details can be checked.

If talks are to proceed all sides must be heard not closed down as suggested by one politician who advised media not to cover Taliban statements. It is time journalists were given greater access to report in Waziristan which is mostly off limits so hard to independently verify claims from all parties. We need to move away from polarization, the narrative that whatever the state says must be right and any allegations from insurgents automatically considered propaganda and report fairly. It is with this thought in mind that I am publishing an article from Adnan Rasheed detailing an army attack last December which I also covered at the time. 

Adnan Rasheed is a Taliban commander who some will remember as the insurgent that penned a letter to schoolgirl Malala Yousafsai following her shooting by TTP. He was sentenced to death for the attack on former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf in 2004. Rasheed was incarcerated at Bannu prison and later freed along with 400 inmates when militants stormed the complex in 2012. He was also the mastermind of the 2013 Dera Ismail Khan jailbreak in which over 170 prisoners escaped.

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The Mir Ali Massacre and True face of Pakistan Army by Adnan Rasheed

Reprinted with permission from Azan Magazine, Issue 5 Page No 27) 

Photos received at the time alleging Pakistan Air Force Attack

It was the 20th of December 2013. The morning was frosty, however no one could have anticipated the chilling events that were about to unfold. More than 25 truck drivers were sipping tea in the Sheereen hotel, waiting for the lifting of the curfew that the Pakistan Army imposes whenever it wills in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Among them were two tribesmen who had just returned from The Gulf States after 6 years of hardships. They were travelling to their native villages in Miran Shah, a city close to Mir Ali. However, trapped in curfew, they decided grudgingly to stay in the hotel. They were eager to rush to their homes; impatiently waiting to give gifts to their children and loved ones, from the stuff they had bought from overseas. Maybe they were imagining the very moment they’d enter their homes… embracing their mothers and kissing their children… but alas it wasn’t to be…

Shereen hotel is on the roadside, situated near the Pakistan Army camp in Mir Ali. The convoys of the security forces used to pass from its front regularly. The hotel was not a security threat for the security forces; in fact, the soldiers themselves used to frequently visit the hotel for a cup of tea. Therefore, the truckers and other civilians who lodged in the hotel were satisfied that the security forces would not harm them.

One day, the convoy stopped and the Army officers and their men came into the hotel. The officers ordered their men to arrest all people inside, including the hotel staff. The innocent civilians were then handcuffed, blind folded and shot in their heads, one after another!

The only eyewitness who had managed to hide somehow in the hotel said that all of the truck drivers were begging for their lives. They pleaded with the soldiers, especially the two – just returned – expatriates, who were showing them their tickets and passports. But all their cries were to no avail and they were calmed with bullets in their heads. [Indeed, to Allah I, we belong and indeed, to Him we are returning]

The whole area of Mir Ali was heavily shelled with long range artillery from 6 am in the morning till darkness. Cobra gunships and machine gun-fitted Mi-17 helicopters targeted the homes of innocent civilians killing more than 70 men, women and children and severely injuring more than 100. Anyone who breathed was declared an enemy combatant. The Pakistan Army continued the operation for a week; homes, shops, mosques, markets, schools and hospitals all were targeted. The Army brutally and ruthlessly bombed down the main Mir Ali Jami’a Masjid located in the heart of the city, killing 6 worshippers in the process. The terrified population of Mir Ali decided to leave their homes in the dark of the night. They all went to the faraway valley of Khaisor by foot in the chilling cold. They had to leave behind their pets and cattle, which died after some days due to starvation. Mir Ali became a ghost town.

My dear brothers and sisters! This was not the first time that the Pakistani security forces played this bloody game – killing innocent and unarmed civilians. In fact, it is merely a repetition of their shameful history.

On 12 August 1948, in Ba Bara, a village in Charsadda district of KPK province a massacre happened. The then law enforcement agencies killed more than 650 innocent, unarmed civilians. The protesters were demanding that Jinnah fulfil his promise – that of imposing the Islamic system in Pakistan. However, their demands were answered with bullets. This massacre happened in the life and government of Jinnah, the so-called father of the nation and founder of this so-called Islamic state.

On the 6th of March 1953, the Pakistan Army imposed martial law in the city of Lahore in order to launch an operation against the anti-Qadyani protesters. The Muslim protesters’ demands were that the government declare Qadyanis to be non-Muslims. More than 1000 devout Muslims were brutally killed (the Red Cross counted 330 killed bodies that day) by the Pakistan Army and thousands were arrested. On the other hand, the Qadyanis were given full protection and security.

In September 1970, known as ‘Black September’, the Jordanian Army, under the command of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, then Brigadier, conducted operations against Palestinian refugees on the behest of the Jordanian government, and killed several thousand innocent Palestinian Muslim refugees.

Also, the Pakistan Army in the then East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, killed a huge number of Bengali Muslims, including women and children from March 1971 to December 1971.  Furthermore, a large number of Bengali Muslim women were raped in front of their husbands and family members by the Pakistani security forces. Most of them were arrested and taken to army camps where the Pakistani Army used them as sex slaves for months until they got pregnant.

On October 30 2006, the Pakistan Army conducted an air strike against a Madrassa (seminary) in Bajaur killing more than 70 innocent young students.

In July 2007, Commandos of the Pakistan Army massacred more than 1000 male and female students, with white phosphorus bombs in Jamia Hafsa, a seminary next to Lal Masjid (The Red Mosque). Two soldiers among them who refused to take part in that operation were then sentenced and sent to jail where I met them.

More than 1000 Swati Muslim women with their children were arrested in various military operations in 2009. They are still missing.

When the Army regained Swat after military operations in 2009, the Pakistan Army used a new tactic; soldiers used to announce a list of some men every day and say that they are required for investigation. Their families were forced to produce the wanted men. The local Jirga used to be the guarantor that the men would be returned after the investigation, within a few days. About 6,500 men were picked up for a FEW DAYS and they are still missing. The families of missing persons staged a protest in front of the Army office in Swat.

Pakistan Army has killed more than 25,000 tribesmen (civilians) during operations in FATA from 2008 to 2012. This figure was officially admitted and submitted by the Pakistan Army to the Supreme Court of Pakistan in February 2012. The Pakistan Air Force, that claims to be the symbol of pride for the nation, is in reality a symbol of shame for the nation. They proudly claim that they have dropped more than 10,600 bombs in the tribal areas on terrorist’s compounds, but undeniably most of the victims were innocent tribesmen. The former Air Chief admitted that their bombing accuracy was only 15 percent. That means 85 percent bombs were dropped on civilians!

The Pakistan Air Force claimed that they targeted my house on January 20, 2014. By the Grace of Allah, I and my family are safe. However, the bombing killed four innocent civilians. They were Maryam (4 years old), her mother Ayesha (24 years old), her grandmother (80 years old) and her uncle Bakhtullah (17 years old). A young boy Shahzeb (7 years old) and his sister (14 years old) were taken to Peshawar for treatment; they had sustained burns and broken bones. The symbol of shame, Pakistan Air Force, killed innocent civilians of the Mehsud tribe in an attempt to kill me along with my wife, two year old daughter and infant son.

It was breaking news on TV that I, with my wife, children and mother were killed in an air strike by PAF jets. The government proudly made this claim but nobody in the Pakistani nation raised this simple question: Why were women and children targeted?

Why wasn’t the question raised: Which national or international law permits the killing of families? The media is biased and might is right! Our opponents term us as ignorant, wild, barbaric and uncivilized. On the other hand, a fighter pilot is regarded as highly educated, disciplined, and having high moral values. Nevertheless, when it comes to matters of war, then who is actually wild and barbaric? You can judge this yourself from the bombings on Faqir of Eppi to the killing of innocent Maryam!

The atrocities of the Pakistan Army in the Baluchistan Province are also widespread. According to ‘Voice for Baloch Missing Persons’, more than 18,000 Baloch Muslims are missing; among them are women. They also claim that they have found more than 3000 mutilated dead bodies of the missing persons. Recently, a mass grave was discovered in which the bodies of fourteen missing Balochs were found; they were known to have been kidnapped by the ISI.

In the 1970s operations in Baluchistan, the Pakistan Army killed more than 5,300 so-called Baloch separatists and 6,000 innocent Baloch civilians, under the command of General Tikka Khan.

It is ridiculous that an Army that has totally failed in maintaining peace in its own country since it came into being, is available for rent to the United Nations’ so-called ‘peace-keeping missions. When a Pakistani soldier dies, it brings money to the pockets of Generals. One of the primary reasons of Pakistan’s joining the war on terror (War against Islam) is money. It seems like the more soldiers die, the better it is for the Generals because with each soldier’s death more money comes in from the coalition support fund.

Pakistan’s security forces are ahead of everyone in human rights abuses, atrocities and war crimes. One can find every example of evilness in their past and present; of massacres more horrifying then Mai Lai, mass graves more than Bosnia, sex abuses more than North Korea, disappearances and mutilated dead bodies more than any country of Latin America, corruptions and bribery more than Russia, Military Coups more than Turkey, corporations and assets more than the military junta of Burmaand expertise in extraordinary rendition.

The Government of Pakistan has imposed an unprecedented law in the country. According to the Protection of Pakistan Act; any member of the security forces can kill anyone if he thinks this person may be a terrorist or miscreant. No authority can question the Army or secret services if they subject someone to disappearance for an unknown and unlimited period. No application or writ petition can be entertained or submitted in any court of Pakistan against the atrocities. Thousands of civilians have been arrested in Karachi during the last two months under this new law. Nobody can question who were they, where they are or when they will be presented to the court for justice? Earlier it was happening de facto now it is happening de jure.

End

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Since the Mir Ali attack there have been further allegations of civilian casualties and I received these photos which claim that the persons shown were killed on 25th February, South Waziristan as a result of Pakistan army action.

All allegations of human rights abuses must be investigated, confirmed or denied and until the Pakistan government puts in place procedures to do so, there will be no trust from the people and little hope of dialogue being effective.

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

“

“Sometimes knowing too much can be a curse” 

I am missing the presence of Moazzam Begg as an important contributor to the daily political debate on terrorism and counter-terrorism on social media. A message came through earlier this week which concerned but did not surprise me, it read, “Moazzam has been arrested on suspicion of Syria-related terrorism offences, in the West Midlands along with a man age 36, a 44 year old woman and her 20 year old son.” Turning on the news, a police spokesperson confirmed that counter-terrorism police were searching their three homes and vehicles and electronic equipment had been taken away for forensic analysis.

Moazzam has documented a history of harassment including confiscation of his passport, being informed that it was “not in the public interest for him to travel”.  He told the Mail on Sunday, “I have consistently been asking for the intelligence and security services to be held to account for complicity in torture and rendition. It is more logical that is the reason I’ve had my passport confiscated.”

I first encountered Moazzam several years ago at Newcastle University where he was a guest speaker and listened in horror and incredulity as the former Guantanamo detainee recounted a tale of capture, torture and imprisonment at the hands of state agencies only to be released without charge after 3 years at “Gitmo”. Later I discovered that Moazzam was not an exception, 86 out of 166 detainees had been cleared for release (some years before) but were still languishing in captivity waiting to be set free.

Moazzam is a well respected human rights activist whose work takes him around the globe, helping to resettle former detainees, unearth evidence of torture and “black sites” (secret prisons) and support those that are oppressed including former prisoners in Northern Ireland. After listening to his lecture, I began to follow Moazzam’s work at CagePrisoners (now CAGE) an independent advocacy organisation “working to empower communities impacted by the War on Terror”. Through his writing and campaigning I connected to individuals and their families whose human rights had been severely violated, often for simply being Muslim and made new friends along the way.

Moazzam with one of his former guards and with campaigners for human rights Northern Ireland

My fellow activist comes across as a voice of reason in unreasonable times, a man of compassion in a world of increasing paranoia and hatred, a source of valued information who stands out from the peddlers of propaganda and false narratives. He is a man who befriended some of his former guards at Guantanamo and has not given in to bitterness and revenge. Moazzam chooses to educate and promote tolerance and understanding across diverse communities in accordance with the teachings of Islam.

Brandon Neely, former guard at Guantanamo, from Texas, had this to say on learning of Moazzam’s arrest, “knowing Moazzam at this moment he is more concerned about other’s welfare than his own.” I recall his genuine concern one day that a brother with disabilities who had gone through a great deal of torment during detention might not be able to find a wife and how that situation might be rectified. It was Moazzam who helped to highlight the story of “enforced disappearences” in Pakistan, a campaign led by a brave activist, Amina Masood Janjua (Defence of Human Rights) who has spent years trying to locate her husband and his friend that went missing from a bus in 2005.

Lauren Booth, a journalist and human rights activist who works with CAGE summed up his resilience and strong faith stating, “I asked Moazzam his memory of Bagram (prison). I expected a gory tale of woe. He said ‘Bagram is where I memorized Surah Bakarah Alhamdoulillah.’”

I felt my own personal connection to Moazzam as someone that has participated in cross border litigation against the state myself with regard to the unlawful killing of two of my family members. My personal experience included being threatened as a widow, faced with unsuccessful attempts to bribe me and presented with a “hush clause” to try to secure my silence. Therefore I understand very well the effort put into suppressing those who oppose wrongful acts albeit through peaceful advocacy work, litigation and non -violent protest.

At times it seems British counter-terrorism policy borders on the ridiculous a fact not lost on Moazzam who has managed to maintain a keen sense of humour and irony. I recall with amusement several of us debating the extent to which fish and chip shops in Scarborough might be the subject of a terrorist attack. The owner of two of these premises, Mr McGregor having received a letter warning his properties might be at risk, stated.

 “In this day and age we’ve got people concerned about rising costs and cutbacks… why on earth are North Yorkshire Police wasting this much money writing to both my fish and chip shops in Scarborough.”

North Yorkshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Tim Madgwick said: “It’s probably true in the sense that his fish and chip shop is not a national target for any terrorist attack but we know all sorts of premises and businesses can be wrapped up in the fall out of terrorist activity.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-12534592

Given some of the absurdities of counter-terrorism policy it came as no surprise to learn that our friend has once again been detained. Moazzam was in contrast to Mr McGregor (who was simply trying to batter his fish) working on highly sensitive material investigating British complicity in torture, connections to Syria, Kenneth Clarke and his secret courts and challenging the latest anti-terrorism reports and strategies. We live in an age where it seems our every move is under surveillance, journalists face terrorism charges for honest reporting and political dissent far from being accepted as freedom of speech is criminalized.

Messages of support were tweeted from many supporters under the hashtag #ReleaseMoazzam. Journalist Yvonne Ridley has invited people to attend a demonstration in Birmingham on Saturday 1st March (details below) stating that “everyone is welcome, people of faith and no faith. If you care about justice we’ll see you there.”

Asim Qureshi who has a background in international law and is the senior researcher at CAGE wrote,

Moazzam Begg, wallahi  I’m thinking about you akhi. May Allah SWT return you to us, and if not, may He grant whichever. I’m tagging you in this message, because I am hopeful in Allah that you will be released, if not now, place you are in a sanctuary from the evil actions of our oppressors. Even detained you give us confidence every single moment we remember you, because you taught us to be true to ourselves and our principles then it will be at a time when you will know that Inshallah we never gave up on you while we had breath in our lungs. Having spent the last ten years of my life in your company (even when you were a cause in GTMO) I feel like I much better understand how to defend not only the honour of those oppressed, but at the same time my own. May Allah SWT reward you and your family, and make you among the first to cross the siraat with the anbiyaa and siddiqeen, ameen.

I wait to see what will happen when the time for questioning Moazzam in custody has lapsed. My prayers are for his family that have endured so much already. In the meantime those that know Moazzam will fight for our friend as he would do for us, we are missing a special brother.

Links..

Website for CAGE

http://www.cageuk.org/

Release Moazzam video 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jd8-lc3guhw&list=UUgmdsvj_lJ96fhsjdBaCfyw&index=1&app=desktop 

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.

TTP Mohmand Agency deliver news of  the killing of 23 Frontier Corps men in retaliation for killing of their men in state custody

I have spent a great deal of my life condemning violent actions whether carried out by state, group or individual. Therefore I express my deep sadness when hearing of the torture and unlawful killing of persons in state custody or recent execution of 23 Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers by Tehrik -i-Taliban (TTP) Mohmand Agency. The soldiers were executed in retaliation for killings of Taliban prisoners in state custody in Karachi and Peshawar as detailed in a written statement by Omar Khalid Khurrasani, Mohmand TTP leader. I received this communication from TTP along with a video statement from their own media.

TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid claims that the Mohmand Agency killings were in response to killing of 23 colleagues in state custody. The Pakistani government have denied extrajudicial killings and dismissed the Taliban claims as propaganda.

Mohmand Agency TTP (earlier photo) and letter detailing FC killings

Abuse carried out by state agencies is a hugely sensitive issue as highlighted by courageous individuals such as Amina Masood Janjua, Defence of Human Rights (DHR) whose husband was “disappeared” in 2005 and those participating in the Voice for Baloch Missing Persons (VBMP) Long March, their aim to “surface” their loved ones whether alive or buried in a mass grave.

Consider how many journalists have been threatened, beaten up, found dumped on the outskirts of a city with a warning not to report on “sensitive” issues again. Drone victim, Kareem Khan was the latest to experience this, tortured for challenging the state on drone strikes which killed his son. My late colleague journalist Saleem Shahzad was murdered, his body showing signs of torture after writing a story on the Mehran Navy base attack. Both Saleem and I had been previously been “advised” not to report on insurgency and drones. We were planning an anti -drone conference and to film victims at the time of his kidnap.

As an independent human rights campaigner and peace activist, what is hugely disturbing is the failure of the state to listen and address the wider picture of human rights violations following repeated allegations of enforced disappearances, kidnappings, torture and unlawful killing of detainees in custody.

It is important not to delay during this period of dialogue for peace. These violent crimes and extra judicial killings only lead to intense anger at the glaring double standards of the state and can lead to radicalization of individuals within Pakistan as discussed in a previous article, Pakistan, terrorism and torture: How I was radicalized by the state  http://londonprogressivejournal.com/article/view/1724/pakistan-terrorism-and-torture-how-i-was-radicalised-by-the-state

When it comes to torture of alleged insurgents, the principle that “human rights must not be selective” goes out of the window drowned by a baying for blood. Although some might consider state torture and killing in custody a successful solution to dealing with detainees, in reality it acts as a recruiting tool for those that see that the state has a two tier system, one rule for the elite (who seem to get away with almost anything) and another for the majority of ordinary Pakistanis.

Recently I interviewed Taliban on several occasions in line with All Parties Conference (APC) decision to go for dialogue with insurgents. I spoke with Mohmand Agency TTP regarding their brothers who they claim were tortured in police, prison custody and unlawfully killed. They threatened to retaliate in a statement posted on social media and I asked them to give me time to try to address their allegations as I did not want to see any more killings on any side. A friend from Freedom from Torture (UK) offered to put me in touch with a UN representative that had worked on torture to take up this issue.

In the meantime, I contacted Farah Lodhi, a friend at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf  (PTI) party in opposition to Nawaz Sharif Government and she suggested the name of Major Masood Khattak, former Director General of the Intelligence Bureau (I.B) who is also a tribal person. She explained that Khattak had joined PTI and might be able to assist on this matter. I emailed Major Sharif Khan Khattak myself on 13th January 2014 and Farah also kindly forwarded the letter to him and Imran Khan, Chairman of PTI. To date I have not received a response. Here is my letter as sent:-

Major Khattak (pictured at World Economic Forum) the recipient of my letter raising concerns of state torture

Letter warning of human rights abuses in custody in Pakistan

13.1.2014

Dear Major Khattak,

Farah Lodhi of PTI suggested I make contact with you after I discussed an important issue with my friend.

I am an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights from the UK and work from personal life experience of having my husband and brother in law and over 4,500 of my community unlawfully killed due to the actions of the US and British governments (not war or conflict). After years of fighting for justice and in litigation there were two ways I could go, seek revenge or use my experience in a peaceful way to help others. I choose the latter. You can check me out on the following two links, http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/feb/22/oscars-newcastle-nurse-campaigner-film and http://www.policymic.com/articles/43111/carol-anne-grayson-incident-in-new-baghdad-producer-talks-anti-drone-activism

I have spent the last few years writing on socio-political issues following the death of my husband which brought me into contact with a Pakistani journalist Saleem Shahzad who was sadly murdered due to his reporting all sides of the War On Terror… (again I did not seek revenge) only to ensure all journalists are protected. Saleem and I ran a website together and were working on a conference on drones to highlight peace and security issues related to their use in line with the work of PTI when he was killed.

I continued writing and campaigning against drones and was aware my work was observed by insurgents for some time and was sometimes able to interview them via a third person.  I condemn ALL violence.

In recent months, they initiated direct dialogue and this has proven very educative and useful with regard to working for peace in line with supporting the decision of the APC.  I was straight talking from the start, informed them of my non-violence stance and said I did not bow down to any kind of intimidation or threat which was accepted. They were made aware that I work to report all issues with honesty and fairness and will not compromise that. I chose to work unpaid living off small widow’s allowance in order to protect my freedom of speech.

We had positive dialogue on the polio vaccine and I was able to interview TTP several times, then Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in a drone strike and had to work to keep dialogue going. Now dialogue is strong and I receive all their statements released to media and often translated for me into English though am learning a few words of Pashto.

Dialogue top priority of Pakistan government http://www.dawn.com/news/1080051/dialogue-with-taliban-top-priority-of-govt-nisar

Yesterday they released a statement relating to the killing of Ch Aslam, warnings related to those that allegedly torture in police stations and prisons. I decided to ask them to give me time to tackle this issue in a peaceful way.

Here is one article on torture in Pakistan http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/oct/08/pakistan-torture-prison

Whatever the actions of TTP, a state should not torture and Pakistan is signed up to support this. Torture increases the security risk and puts ordinary people at risk when insurgents strike back. The families of those that have allegedly tortured are now at risk. I thought if I could work on a few basic rights for prisoners it might stop people being killed. Over the years I have been made aware of a numerous cases of enforced disappearances some leading to interrogation and alleged torture. Frankly a state that itself practises torture does not have a moral leg to stand on in terms of tackling the violence of others. States around the globe are meant to lead by example and act within the law.

I have tackled such issues also in terms of behaviour at Guantanamo and Bagram. On Saturday there were protests in Britain, UK, Yemen and several other countries to close Guantanamo and deal humanely with detainees

One way to calm quell some of the violence in Pakistan in preparation for dialogue is for the state to address the importance of good practice in police stations and prisons in a few simple steps which ought to be happening anyway.

No torture, beating of prisoners

Access to basics regarding food, health care, exercise

Visits from family members and independent human rights persons to monitor well being of prisoners.

I have the support of TTP leadership to discuss rights for prisoners as an independent human rights campaigner and I believe this could be a first step to communication and have many contacts in FATA who know my work and share their experiences.

People are dying in great numbers on all sides and the cycle of violence needs to stop with movement from rhetoric to steps for action. It is surely a time for honesty on all sides.

Here is my email …………….. 

If the government and political parties are serious about dialogue I am willing to come to Pakistan to discuss any ways efforts can be made towards peace for Pakistanis and also for the world.

I hope you can assist in some way and look forward to your reply. In turn I will try to negotiate for TTP support for polio vaccine, not to attack workers though they have told me they are not responsible for all of the killings and am prepared to go with workers to start the ball rolling if successful.

My loved ones are dead and can do nothing for them anymore but I can support others.

Kind Regards

Carol Grayson

End

What affect will state torture and killings of FC have on peace talks?

The government committee dealing with dialogue has according to Dawn News expressed its inability to carry forward peace talks in light of Mohmand incident and due to ongoing violence. There are calls for TTP to halt such activities. TTP had previously stated that if state torture, killings did not cease there would be retaliation (now in practice) and more could follow. Currently there is a dialogue deadlock. Talks will never succeed unless all parties address these issues swiftly, with honesty and a commitment to ceasing the violence all round. This is what the people of Pakistan deserve.

UPDATE… since writing this article several videos have appeared claiming to show killings or bodies, body parts of FC soldiers. On 20th February 2014, Mohmand Agency stated, “on social media, propaganda is spread by different videos claiming it to be the videos of FC members killed in Mohmand Agency. We haven’t released any video of these FC members.”

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights 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”.