Iraqi communist arrested

Hawree Latif was killed on July 14 when forces from the ruling Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) attacked the offices of the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq (WCPI) in Suleimaniah, Iraqi Kurdistan. On October 27, Hawree's brother, Aram Latif, was arrested at a PUK checkpoint on route to visiting Hawree's family in Suleimaniah.

The PUK is now regularly kidnapping and arresting communists. In the last three months, in an attempt to destroy the one party that is campaigning for democracy, freedom and self-determination for Iraqi Kurdistan, it has arrested scores of WCPI members.

Hiwa Ahmad, a leader of the WCPI, is incarcerated after being arrested during a raid on his house on October 26. Ahmad was kidnapped by PUK forces on October 16 in Suleimaniah, but released on October 25 after local and international pressure forced the regime to acknowledge his arrest. His re-arrest two weeks ago is still being denied by the PUK's press.

Both activists lives are in danger. Please help put pressure on the PUK government to release all political prisoners, and to respect human rights and allow freedom of political expression in Iraqi Kurdistan. Fax letters of protest to the PUK offices in London (+44 171 840 0630) or Washington (+1 202 637 2723).

From GLW issue 427