Investigation of the murder of the Kurdish Journalist Sardasht Othman
should be observed by an independent international committee

It is now more than four months since the murder of Sardasht Othman، a 23 year old Kurdish journalist and English language student in Salahadin University.

He was kidnapped on Tuesday 4th of May at 8.30AM outside the University in the city of Erbil. His body was found in Mosul on 6th May 2010.

Sardasht was a Journalist who had written many articles criticizing the Kurdish government، particularly the Barzani family and his murder has attracted the attention of journalists، trade unions، MPs and human rights groups in Kurdistan and worldwide.

Last week the committee set up to investigate the murder by the President of the Kurdistan Region، Massoud Barzani published its results. It said the “student” Sardasht Osman was murdered by Ansar al-Islam، a Sunni group، after he refused to carry out work he had promised to them.

This is not a satisfactory conclusion for many people including the family، many journalists and prominent newspapers and authors. Already، since the investigation announced its findings Ansar al-Islam has released a statement saying they had no involvement in the killing of Sardasht.

To take Sardasht from Erbil، where he was kidnapped، and Mosul، where his body was found، he had to be taken through 11 manned، government checkpoints where cars are searched.
We demand an investigation independent of President Barzani and his hand-picked committee.

We are asking for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG ) to:

1- Investigate the murder of Sardasht Osman under the observation of an independent international committee.

2- Defend the freedom of political activity، press and freedom of thought in Kurdistan.

Name Organisation/ Position Signature
George Lavender Communities of Resistance (CoRe)
Richard Whittell London Coalition Against Poverty (LCAP) and Campaign to Stop Deportations to Iraq
Martin Thomas Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
David Osler National Union of Journalists
Andrew Charles Public Commercial Services Union
Daniel Angell Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
Carol Foster Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
Jean Lane Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
Dashty Jamal International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) Secretary
Karen Johnson Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Michael Weller Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
Ed Maltby Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
Joanna Baker Journalist
Osman Husain Student
Shaivalini Parmar Student
Russell Carr Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Josy Daisy Unite Union
Jim Smith Unison Union
Michael Fox
Sam Johnson
Vicki Morris Alliance for Workers’ Liberty (AWL)
C McDonald Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
B Crocker Rail Maritime and Transport Union (RMT)
S Jordan Unison Union
Esther Townsend Unison Union
Flaminia Giambadro Student
Jade Loni Baker Student Union VP
Chris Hickey Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS)
Daniel Randall GMB

Worker-communist Party of Kurdistan - Abroad Committee

19-9-2010

Website: Tel: 0044 (0) 785 324 3011, _ Email: wpk.abroad@gmail.com
www.hkkurdistan.org