MFI Press Release: Attacks on Civilian Populations in Iraqi Kurdistan Prompt International Protests

2 September 2011, Washington DC — Activists in 12 cities throughout Europe and North America will gather to protest on Saturday 3 September against the attacks on civilians in Iraqi Kurdistan by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Turkish government. The protests come just as warnings have been raised that the Islamic Republic is preparing to launch new attacks in the Qandil Mountains.

For the past several weeks, people in the border villages of Iraqi Kurdistan have been the targets of military operations by both the Islamic Republic of Iran and by the Turkish military. At least 10 civilians have been killed, while nearly 1,000 families have been displaced by the attacks on their villages.

The Turkish government and the Islamic Republic claim that the reason they are launching air and ground assaults in the region is to defend against attacks by armed militants. However, the artillery and aerial bombardments have been launched against civilians and their villages, farms, livestock, and vehicles.

Mission Free Iran strongly condemns these atrocities in Iraqi Kurdistan and we ask honorable people worldwide to join in Saturday’s demonstrations in the following cities:

CANADA
Toronto
Time: September 3, 2-4 pm
Place: Turkish Consulate General, 10 Lower Spadina Avenue, Suite 300 Toronto, M5V 2Z2
Organiser: WPI & LWPI
Contact: 416 858 6974, 647 298 0409

Vancouver
Time: September 3, 5-7pm
Place: In front of the Art Gallery, Robson & How

CYPRUS
Nicosia
Time: Saturday 3 September 2011, 10-11am
Place: Islamic Republic Embassy
Contact: Amir Masoud Khaghani, tel: 99170803
Organized by: Cyprus Refugee Rights Movement

GERMANY
Frankfurt
Time: September 3, 1-5pm
Place: Hauptwache
Organiser: LWPI & WPI

Koln
Time: September 3, 5pm
Place: Domplatte
Organiser: LWPI & WPI

Munich
Date: September 3
Time: 4pm
Place: Isarinselfest, in front of Lukaskirche
Organizer: Petra Plötz, 0176-50728972

SWEDEN
Borås
Time: September 3, 2-4pm
Place: Stora torget.
Contact: Esmail Mardukh 0 737 59 85 66

Gothenberg
Time: September 3, 1-3pm
Place: Brunnsparken
Contact: Abe Asadi 0737178819

Malmo
Time: September 3, 1-3pm
Place: Davidshallsbron
Contact: Farideh Arman 0703638088

Orebro
Time: September 3, 4-5pm
Place: Stortorget
Organiser: Mission Free Iran

Sävsjö
Time: September 3, 4-5pm
Place: Sävsjö Centrum
Organiser: Mission Free Iran
Contact: moied83@gmail.com تلفن: 0736561595

USA
Washington DC
Date: Saturday 3 September 2011
Time: 1-3pm
Place: Embassy of Turkey (2525 Massachusetts Ave NW) starting at 1pm, then at 2pm move to protest at the offices of the Islamic Republic of Iran (2209 Wisconsin Ave) and protest for an hour.
Organizer: Mission Free Iran
Contact: maria.rohaly@gmail.com; (240) 812-9234

CONTACT:
Maria Rohaly
Coordinator,
Mission Free Iran
http://missionfreeiran.org
Representative,
International Coalition for the Rights of Iranian Refugees
phone: (240) 812-9234
email: maria.rohaly@gmail.com

###