Iraqi journalists against all odds

On his return to his natal home near Kirkuk, Iraqi journalist Jasim Sabawi left behind Iran and looked to a future without Saddam Hussein. In 2004, he ventured to Baghdad and was tempted along with some friends to launch a new political party. But the plans fell through and he instead decided to launch a newspaper in his predominately Sunni town. It wasn't long until the death threats started. Already in 2006, decapitated corpses were not uncommon sights in the streets. Sabawi nonetheless tempted fate by speaking out against al-Qaida, a decision that almost cost him his life. Instead of fleeing, Sabawi decided to launch a non-sectarian political party, the Iraqi People's Party and is hoping to make gains in October's provincial elections.

The toD verdict: Like Jasim Sabawi, Iraqi journalist Sahar Hussein al-Haideri must have understood the dangers. The threats were there, the intimidation and angry cold stares of unfamiliar faces along with it. Earlier last year, she moved her husband and children from their home in Mosul to Syria. Haideri stayed behind to work on the stories she wrote for Voices of Iraq news agency and the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (IWPR). The stoning to death of a 17 year-old Yezidi girl had caught her attention. Not long after its publication at IWPR, she was shot dead in front of her house by Ansar al-Sunna insurgents.

Fear, intimidation, death threats and the possibility of assassination surround an Iraqi journalist  on a daily basis. According to a report by Reporters without Borders, Iraqi journalists are deliberately targeted by insurgents and in some cases, by Iraqi police and coalition forces. Sixty-five journalists were killed in Iraq in 2006, sixty-three were Iraqi, most murdered by insurgents. Haideri died in her struggle to disclose injustice. Today, Sabawi's struggle for a civil society against the odds demonstrates Iraqis' determination to foment change from within.  

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US President George Bush's latest obsession with Iran threatens to further complicate internal sectarian dynamics in Iraq. The US is planning to maintain 140,000 US soldiers in Iraq once the additional five brigades are withdrawn in July. The primary motive now appears to be an impending threat from a Shia Iran which Bush claims is more of a force for ill in Iraq than the brutal Sunni al-Qaida pan-nationalist movement. Al-Qaida tactics proved distasteful for many Iraqi Sunnis who in turn formed a tentative alliance, funded by the Pentagon, with Shia Prime Minister al-Maliki. However, Maliki is now courted by Iranian President Ahmadinejad who last month made a historic state visit to Baghdad. It is likely Bush's latest focus on Iran will strain the fragile relationship between the armed Iraqi Sunnis and Maliki.

Pakistani Hindus marginalized

Cultural and legal prejudice against three million Hindus living in Pakistan is further marginalising the minority in the predominately Muslim country. Reports of brutal violence and land seizure targeting Hindus are also causing concern. Culturally, Hindus are called na paks translated as unpure. Legally, Hindus also face discriminating laws. Between 1973 to 2002, Hindus were only allowed to vote for Hindu candidates. President Musharraf later abolished the law. Today Hindus have to contend with the duplicitous blasphemy law. A Muslim who beats or even kills a Hindu can accuse the victim of blasphemy against Islam. Under the blasphemy law, the Muslim is exonerated for his crime.

Explosion rattles Iran mosque

A massive explosion at the Shohada Hosseiniyeh mosque in Shiraz, a capital of a southern province in Iran, killed twelve people and wounded close to 200. The explosion occurred in a cultural center attached to the mosque Saturday night during an evening prayer. Deputy Political-Security Governor General of Fars Province says they have ruled out a bomb as cause for the explosion. However a prominent clerk who was conducting the prayer at the time of the blast says he witnessed an individual plant a package. The mosque is reputed for denouncing Wahhabism.

Iraq's secret Serbia

September of last year, Iraqi defense minister Abdul Qadir initially secured an $833 million arms deal with Serbia. The deal was struck without any bidding, nor the standard anti-corruption safeguards which require deliberation among senior Iraqi Army officers and an Iraqi contract approval committee. After much criticism the deal was reduced to $236 million. Helicopters, airplanes, mortar systems, machine guns, body armor and other equipment were on the shopping list. A similar purchase in 2004 and 2005 cost the Iraqi government $1.3 billion. It was later revealed that Iraqi officials had purchased non-existent or defective weapons and equipment. Lacking a standard electronic banking system, duffle bags stuffed with hundred dollar bills were ferried to middlemen.

Another five-year anniversary

A new violent clash between the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) rebels and Sudanese government soldiers in West Darfur has emerged on the heals of the five year anniversary of the conflict this past Sunday. JEM officials report at least one hundred Sudanese soldiers were killed.  The protracted campaign by the Arab military junta ruling Sudan has destroyed around ninety percent of mostly black African villages in the region. Despite the presence of a 10,000 strong hybrid peacekeeping mission - expected 26,000 - between the United Nations and African Union (UNAMID), the violence does not seem to abate, nor does the political hypocrisy that so often trumps humanitarian concerns. In Khartoum, the International Criminal Court in The Hague indicted top official Amhed Haroum with twenty-two counts of crimes against humanity in 2007. Khartoum officials subsequently appointed him as Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs.

Jordanian torture

Yemeni terrorist suspect Ali al-Hajj al-Sharqawi documents his abuse by the hands of Jordanian officials who then relay information to CIA agents. Sharqawi was arrested in Pakistan in 2002 before being transferred to a secret detention center in Jordan where he is still being held without charge. He was able to communicate his condition by secretly slipping two letters to a contact who then handed the material to Salon journalist Joanne Mariner. According to the letters, al-Sharqawi is systematically threatened with electricity, snakes and dogs. Jordan denies any involvement.

A deadly week

Nineteen American troops have been killed Iraq since last Sunday. The grim toll is the highest US troop causality count in a week for the year to date. Last month, more than 60% of US troop causalities occurred in Baghdad compared with 28% in February according to the Associated Press.