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110 Dead in Iraq in One of the Bloodiest Days of U.S. Occupation
Iraqi Activist Yanar Mohammed - "U.S. Troops Have To
Leave Now And We Will Take Care Of Iraq"
Leading Muslim Scholar Tariq Ramadan Denied U.S. Visa to
Teach at Notre Dame
Afghan Women's Rights Activist and Loya Jirga Member Malalai
Joya Discusses Continuing Violence and Upcoming Elections
in Afghanistan
Up to 110 Dead in Iraq in One of the Bloodiest Days
of U.S. Occupation
As many as 110 people were killed in Iraq yesterday and
over 200 wounded in one of the bloodiest days of the occupation
in months. We go to Baghdad, the scene of some of the weekend's
worst casualties, to speak with journalist Patrick Cockburn
of the London Independent. [includes rush
transcript]
As many as 110 people were killed in Iraq yesterday and over
200 wounded in one of the bloodiest days of the occupation
in months. The Iraqi Health Ministry told Reuters the worst
casualties were in Baghdad, where 37 were killed, and in Tal
Afar near the Syrian border where 51 people died.
About a dozen people were killed - including a young girl
and a Palestinian reporter for al-Arabiya - when a US helicopter
fired into a crowd of civilians in Baghdad who had surrounded
a burning Bradley fighting vehicle.
Speaking on NBC, Secretary of State Colin Powell said, "This
is not the time to get weak in the knees or faint about it,
but to drive on and finish the work that we started."
Meanwhile, in an interview with British newspapers, Iraq's
interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, has said elections must
go ahead as planned in January even if violence stops some
Iraqis from voting.
In the latest fighting, at least 15 people were killed in
a joint US-Iraqi attack on targets in Falluja, this according
to the BBC.
Witnesses said US artillery bombarded several districts,
before circling warplanes opened fire.
- Patrick Cockburn, journalist with the London Independent.
Iraqi Activist Yanar Mohammed - "U.S. Troops
Have To Leave Now And We Will Take Care Of Iraq"
As fighting rages across occupied Iraq, we speak with Iraqi
women's activist Yanar Mohammed. She is the director of the
Organization of Women's Freedom (OWFI), a group that works
to stop the atrocities against Iraqi women and defend their
rights and is editor in chief of the newspaper Equality in
Iraq. [includes rush
transcript]
- Yanar Mohammed, Director of The Organization of Women's
Freedom (OWFI), a group that works to stop the atrocities
against Iraqi women and defend their rights. One of the
organization's main projects is the development of a battered
women's shelter in Baghdad to protect women who are fleeing
from violence and "honor killings." In addition,
she serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Equality newspaper
(Al-Mousawat).
Leading Muslim Scholar Tariq Ramadan Denied U.S.
Visa to Teach at Notre Dame
The U.S. Government revoked a work visa for Tariq Ramadan,
one of the world's most important Muslim scholars, to teach
at the University of Notre Dame. We go to Switzerland to speak
with Tariq Ramadan and we hear from the director of the Institute
for International Peace Studies at Notre Dame that appointed
Ramadan.
The United States has denied entry to one of one of Europe's
most influential Islamic thinkers.
Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss scholar known for his work on Islamic
theology and the place of Muslims in the modern world, was
appointed to teach Islamic philosophy and ethics at the University
of Notre Dame. He received a visa from the State Department
and was scheduled to start his classes in late August. But
just days before he was set to travel, his visa was revoked
without explanation at the behest of the Department of Homeland
Security.
It turns out Ramadan was barred under a section of the Patriot
Act, which bars entry to foreigners who have used a "position
of prominence . . . to endorse or espouse terrorist activity."
- Tariq Ramadan, professor of Islamic studies and philosophy
at Fribourg University in Switzerland. He is the author
of "To Be a European Muslim" and "Western
Muslims and the Future of Islam." He has been described
by Time magazine as one of the 100 most likely innovators
of the 21st century.
- Scott Appleby, director of the Joan B. Kroc Institute
for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre
Dame in South Bend, Indiana.
Afghan Women's Rights Activist and Loya Jirga Member
Malalai Joya Discusses Continuing Violence and Upcoming Elections
in Afghanistan
We speak with Afghan women's rights activist Malalai Joya,
an elected representative to the December 2003 Loya Jirga
convention in Kabul to create Afghanistan's new constitution.
She received numerous death threats for speaking out against
fundamentalist leaders - including from Ismail Khan - the
governor of Herat who was recently fired by President Karzai,
sparking demonstrations and violence. [includes rush
transcript]
The US military has announced it killed 22 suspected Taliban
and al-Qaeda militants in a gun battle in southern Afghanistan
late Sunday.
The BBC reports American troops and helicopters fought the
insurgents in the Shinkay district of Zabul province which
is widely regarded as a Taliban stronghold. He said about
40 militants armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades
had attacked American troops on patrol.
Meanwhile, in the west of Afghanistan, about 50 UN staff
and aid workers are preparing to leave the city of Herat following
clashes between troops and angry demonstrators Sunday.
At least seven people were killed and up to 50 injured when
U.S.-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai fired the powerful
governor of Herat, Ismail Khan. Protests against Khan's removal
turned violent when supporters torched buildings in a U.N.
compound in the city.
Khan is a veteran mujahideen leader and a critic of U.S.-backed
government and Washington's policies in Afghanistan. Karzai
fired Khan and appointed a replacement as part of his campaign
pledge to rein in warlords.
Reuters reports the city of Herat accounts for 8 percent
of the more than 10 million Afghans who have registered to
vote in Afghanistan's presidential election, which pits Karzai
against 17 challengers.
We are joined in the studio by Malalai Joya, an elected representative
to the December 2003 Loya Jirga - or Grand Council - convention
in Kabul to create Afghanistan's new constitution. At the
convention, Joya spoke out against the council chairman's
proposal to appoint high clergy members and fundamentalist
leaders to guide planning groups.
She objected saying several of those religious leaders were
war criminals who should be on trial - not hailed as national
heroes to influence the new government. As a result of her
speaking out, Malalai Joya received numerous death threats
- including from Ismail Khan. She continued at Loya Jirga
under U.N. protection.
Since then, Joya has continued to press her case against
the former rulers of Afghanistan. Since 1998, Malalai Joya
has worked in Afghanistan as a social worker establishing
an orphanage and a health clinic and speaking out against
the Taliban.
- Malalai Joya, elected representative to the December
2003 Loya Jirga (Grand Council) convention in Kabul to create
Afghanistan's new constitution. Since 1998, Mailali Joya
has worked in Afghanistan as a social worker establishing
an orphanage and a health clinic and speaking out against
the Taliban.
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Mike Burke, Sharif Abdel Kouddous,
Ana Nogueira, Elizabeth Press, Jeremy Scahill and Parvez Sharma.
Mike Di Filippo is our engineer.
Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Johnny Sender, Rich Kim, Joe Murgio, John Randolph,
Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Eric Rweyemamu,
Jenny Filipazzo and Isis Phillips.
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