Violence against academics in post-invasion Iraq

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Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Iraqi academics have frequently been threatened with violence, kidnapped, or murdered. Although it is impossible to determine the exact scale of the violence and intimidation, the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education reported that over 3,250 academics had fled the country between February and August of 2006.[1] According to the Iraqi Association of University Lecturers about 300 academics, including Ph.D.'s working in Iraqi government ministries and University administrators, had been killed before January, 2007.[2] Other, less reliable, sources have placed the death toll as low as 20 and as high as 1,000.[2][3]

One of the earliest reports on this violence was Robert Fisk's report in July 2004.[4] Fisk stated that "university staff suspect that there is a campaign to strip Iraq of its academics, to complete the destruction of Iraq's cultural identity which began when the American army entered Baghdad." The violence became the subject of an international appeal by the BRussells Tribunal in January 2006[5]. The BRussells Tribunal continues to collect information on the subject, listing 288 killed academics and 74 threatened academics as of December 24, 2006.[6]

Little is known about the group or groups responsible for the attacks. The BRussells Tribunal states that "Not one individual has been apprehended in connection with these assassinations."[5] Various hypotheses that have been claimed for the attacks include a systematic attempt by Iraqi non-state armed opposition groups (Sunni and Shi'ite) [7][8], or Kuwaiti or Israeli secret services[4] to decimate Iraq's intelligentsia. The BRussells Tribunal takes no position on attributing blame for the violence, stating that "The wave of assassinations appears non-partisan and non-sectarian, targeting women as well as men, and is countrywide."[5]

The extent of the violence against academics has prompted fears of a brain drain in Iraq of those academics who are not killed. According to UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization director-general Koïchiro Matsuura: "By targeting those who hold the keys of Iraq's reconstruction and development, the perpetrators of this violence are jeopardizing the future of Iraq and of democracy." [9]

The BRussells Tribunal has called for an independent investigation by the special rapporteur on summary executions at UNHCHR in Geneva.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ghosh, Aparisim. "Baghdad Bulletin: Death Stalks the Campus", Time Magazine, 2006-11-02. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  2. ^ a b Crain, Charles. "Approximately 300 academics have been killed", USA Today, 2007-01-17. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  3. ^ Janabi, Ahmed. "Iraqi intellectuals flee 'death squads'", Al Jazeera, 2004-04-06. Retrieved on 2007-01-20. (Note that many facts in this article contradict other sources.)
  4. ^ a b Fisk, Robert (14 July 2004). Academics targeted as murder and mayhem hits Iraqi colleges. The Independent. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  5. ^ a b c d Stop the Assassination of Iraqi academics  : A campaign of The BRussells Tribunal and CEOSI. BRussells Tribunal. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  6. ^ List of killed, threatened or kidnapped Iraqi Academics. BRussells Tribunal. Retrieved on 2007-02-04.
  7. ^ Jawad, Abdul Sattar. "Iraq's Deadliest Zone: Schools", The Washington Post, 2006-11-27. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  8. ^ Bender, Bryan and Stockman, Farrah. "Iraq's violent 'brain drain' called a threat to future", The Boston Globe, 2006-11-30. Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
  9. ^ Threatening and Killing of Scientists in Iraq. American Association for the Advancement of Science (2006-05-09). Retrieved on 2007-01-20.
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