[Ppnews] Supporters of Iraq Resistance Conference on Hunger Strike

[Political Prisoner News]

Wednesday, September 07, 2005




Seven People on Hunger Strike Against Censorship Since 1 September!

Leonardo Mazzei, 49, employed by ENEL (national electric company), 
spokesman for the Italian “Free Iraq” Committee
Anika Persiani, 31, active in the “Free Iraq” Committee
Lara Wintzer, 21, active in the “Free Iraq” Committee in Germany
Ilia Montani, 20, philosophy student, activist in the Umbria Student Movement
Jörg Ulrich, 38, student, former PKK militant, of the “Free Iraq” Committee 
in Germany
Roberto Gabriele, 66, of the international Foundation “Nino Pasti” of Rome. 
Well known figure in the anti-imperialist movement
Emanuele Fanesi, student-worker in Perugia, active in the “Anti-Imperialist 
Camp”



Their press statement
Knock if you can hear us!
Seven of us are already in our sixth day of a hunger strike so that the 
Foreign Affairs Minister of Italy, Gianfranco Fini consents to the 
concession of visas to the exponents of the popular Iraqi opposition to 
attend the conference in Chianciano “For a just peace, with the Iraqi 
resistance”.
The ample and sincere solidarity that has come to them from every sector 
reinforces their morale and gives strength to their struggle.

But to win the arrogance of Fini and of the “American Party” THERE HAS TO 
BE MORE.
What has to be done? That other persons contribute in some way to the 
hunger strike.

We are addressing specifically the various organisms who, although not 
being part of “Free Iraq” are together with us in preparing the Conference. 
Invite even one of your people to support us!
We invite everyone who is concerned about our struggle and comprehends its 
political importance, not only to sign the petition “We want to see the 
visas” LINK (and circulate it), but to make a gesture of courage and 
generosity, to come join the seven at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

To us, this seems the clearest way to help the hunger strikers, so that 
they are not alone, so that it is not they alone who are defeated, but a 
Minister that, for an excess of zeal, does not hesitate to bow down at the 
commands of Emporer Bush.

To those listening, who would like to come to the aid of the seven who are 
in front of the Ministry, contact them at 0039 347/781 5904 (Leonardo).

LATEST! The President of the Tuscany Region Martini rejected the request 
made by Forza Italia and various Pro-Bush newspapers to prohibit the 
Cianciano Conference on 1 and 2 October. He states that the Foreign Affairs 
Ministry is making a great mistake in not granting the visas to the Iraqi 
citizens invited by Free Iraq.

WHY DO THEY WANT TO DENY HAJ ALI (symbol of the Torture of Abu Ghraib) A 
CHANCE TO SPEAK IN ITALY?

One of the persons to whom the visa has been denied is Haj Ali.
Who is Haj?
He is a symbol of the torture in the prison of Abu Ghraib, the prisoner who 
was made famous in the photograph with the hood and the electrical wires 
while standing balanced on a box over a wet floor. Haj was the major of the 
town of Abu Ghraib. After his tragic experience he founded in Iraq “Iraqi 
Association of the Victims of American Occupation Prisons” (1h1050 Non 
Governative Organisation).

We will see if Minister Fini insists upon denying the visa to this man as 
well. Will he say in this case as well that Haj is “spreading hate” only 
because he will come to tell Italians and others attending the conference 
in Europe how the heroic mercenaries wrapped in the stars and stripes 
tortured innocent citizens? In case the visa is really obtained it would be 
possible to organise a speaking tour at a national level, and we hope that 
many movements contrary to the imperialist war join us in providing him 
access to speak. If you want to read the declaration of the “Iraqi 
Association of the Victims of American Occupation Prisons”

The Freedom Archives
522 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 863-9977
www.freedomarchives.org 
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