LFIQ appeal for Nozad Ismail winning support from around the world

All the messages of support will be passed to Nozad Ismail and will be used in our continuing campaign to avert his assassination.

Here is an initial selection of messages received from Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA.

The spread of such support indicates that there are many in the international labour movement have read about the campaign via LabourStart (for which we give thanks) and wish to give solidarity to Iraqi democrats but this is just the start. Please join our campaign and pass the information (scroll down the site) to your networks.

Denise McGuire, President of Connect, representing 20,000 managers and professionals in the communications industry, sends her support
Anna Ardin, Students Union, Union for hotel and restaurant workers, Sweden says “there will never be democracy in Iraq if people can not feel fully free to express their opinions and struggle for their rights.”

Joe Kelly will attempt to get this motion passed at his Union Council and branch of the Australian Labor Party.

Larry Elder, Minnesota State Duty Officer, Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management, sends his support.

Sandi Jones of the MUSAA - Maritime Unionist Socialist Activities Association (Australia) – says “we support this initiative and have made considerable effort through our own networks, to email this information to our members and associates and encourage them to support and forward the information through their own networks.”

Support has been given by Derek Blackadder, Equality Representative of Canada’s largest union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees in the Ontario Regional Office. Jim Lamb, the British Columbia Assistant Regional Director, CUPE adds his voice to this call of solidarity with Brother Ismail.

Support comes too from Macedonia: “In the name of Solidarity, We hope that the Union Justice will win! Journalists from "Union Life", the newspaper from Macedonian Federation of Trade Unions PS: We are also calling for support because our leaders will soon close the newspaper, and the journalists will become unemployed!”

Alastair Duncan, national bargaining co-ordinator Service and Food Workers Union, Wellington, New Zealand sends solidarity on behalf of the members of the Service and Food Workers Union of New Zealand in your campaign to protect the life of Nozad Ismail and all those Iraq workers and union supporters fighting to build a free and independent union movement in your nation.

Vanessa Yardley Australian Services Union Delegate says “I note that Nozad Ismail, the President of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions in Kirkuk has twice survived assassination attempts by the so-called resistance and is subject to daily death threats. I call upon the international labour movement to extend solidarity to Nozad in the hope that these acts of solidarity and resulting publicity may make the cost of murdering him too high. We believe that increased solidarity with Iraqi democrats like Nozad will also contribute to the success of the forthcoming elections which can secure a sovereign and democratic Iraqi government, which can best tackle the so-called resistance, from which these threats emanate.”

Carita Kazakoff. Industrial Officer Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union (Western Australia) writes “To whom it may concern, I believe that the treatment of trade unionists and the labour movement generally since the Iraq war 'began' with the American invasion has been appalling. It seems apparent that groups on all sides of the conflict have seen fit to demonise unions, and I have watched with horror the appalling attempts to threaten and vilify those involved with the union movement. I send my warmest regards to Nozad for his courage in the face of such opposition and hope that his attempts to rekindle the union movement in Iraq be successful. I hope that he and his family may soon live without the constant threat of violence and death.”

Bob Parker – Organiser Queensland Nurses Union – says: “I note that Nozad Ismail, the President of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions in Kirkuk is reported to have twice survived assassination attempts by the so-called resistance and is subject to daily death threats. As a Trade Union Organiser representing the Nurses of Queensland, Australia, I call upon the international labour movement to extend solidarity to Nozad in the hope that these acts of solidarity and resulting publicity may make the cost of murdering him too high. I believe that increased solidarity with Iraqi democrats like Nozad will also contribute to the success of the forthcoming elections which can secure a sovereign and democratic Iraqi government, which can best tackle the so-called resistance, from which these threats emanate.”