Conference at the European Parliament in Brussels

With Ms Erika Mann, Member of the European Parliament

With Mr. Paulo Casaca, Member of the European Parliament

Conference debate at the European Parliament hosted by
MEPs Ms Erika Mann and Mr Paulo Casaca

"Women Journalist in Iraq – Testimonies of courage"
6th May 2008.

Invited speakers:

Ms Susanne Fischer, Middle East Program Manager of IWPR (Institute for War and Peace Reporting) who has been running journalism training programs in Iraq since 2005. She was based in Suleymaniya.

Ms S. Fischer had brought with her two of her Iraqi colleagues:

Mrs Zainab Ahmed and Mr Dawood Abdullah.

Ms Zainab Ahmed will be receiving, as representative of IWPR Iraq, the Henri Nannen Award for Freedom of Press engagement in Hamburg (Germany) on May 9, 2008.

ITF Europe Representative Dr Hassan Aydinli, and Mrs Merry Fitzgerald from the Committee for the Defence of the Iraqi Turkmens' Rights participated at this conference.

During the gathering which took place after the conference, Dr AYDINLI updated MEPs Erika MANN (Germany) and Mr. Paulo CASACA (Portugal) about the situation in the north of Iraq and he conveyed to them the Turkmens' views and position concerning: Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution which became null and void on 1st January 2008 and the Turkmens opposition to its prolongation for a further 6 months.

Concerning the situation in Kerkuk Governorate Dr Aydinli denounced the 'de facto' demographic changes and kurdification of Turkmen cities and towns since 2003, giving the examples of the abnormal population increases in Kerkuk and Leylan to the benefit of the Kurds.

Dr Aydinli reiterated his demand for the EU's support to the Turkmens' just cause.