THE WITCH HUNT OF PRESIDENT MACRON AND HIS TEAM ON THE FRENCH MUSLIM COMMUNITY
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
This is the limit!Since the bizarre beheading of the French middle schoolteacher Samuel Patyby an 18 years old Chechen muslim, Abdoullakh Abouyedovich Anzorov [whowas killed by the police], because of showing his students the Charlie Hebdo 2012 Muhammad cartoons, followed by the stabbing of three Church visitors in aChurch in Nice by a 21 Tunesian suspect, two very tragic events, all Hell broke out in France.Because the [re]actions of the French government were a de facto declaration of war to muslims, not only in France, but also international.Immediately after the news broke out about the beheading of the school teacher, the French government got bananas.The first bizarre action was the showing of the offending Charlie Hebdo Muhammad cartoons, hanging from French government buildings, violating article 1 of the French Constitution, stating equality and respect for everyone regardless descent, race or religion, as respect for all religions.Although the showing of the cartoons pretended to be in the name of”freedom ofopinion”, the French government knew full well, that many muslims, asIslamic countries, would consider it as a declaration of war.Again, a for muslims holy symbol as the Prophet Muhammed was shownon a disrespectful way, this time by a ”neutral” government.To add insult to injury, president Macron stated, that ”France will not giveup cartoons” in a homage to the beheaded school teacher.Do then the muslims in France not belong to France?No wonder some islamic countries started a boycott against French products.The third action of the French government was the more discriminatory:Minister of Internal Affairs Damartin announced the prohibition of a numberof islamic organisations, being ”enemies of the Republic”, withoutany given proof or connection with any terrorist attack, thus alienating the majority of peaceful muslims in France.An example of Damartin’s witch hunt is the CCIF, a collective that fights Islamophobia in France.The intention is also the deportation of illegal refugees, who received thelabel ”muslimextremists” without any proof of involvement with any terroristattack.In my view as the view of International Law, this is a ”collective punishment” This is no State policy anymore, but a ruthless witch hunt, which has nothing to do with democracy, but with a police State.Especially in those times, dangerous for France, the French government should connect, not polarize.
Astrid EssedAmsterdamThe Netherlands
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor The witch hunt of president Macron and his team on the French muslim community
INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURTTO SECRETARIAT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF STATE PARTIESTO THE BUREAU MEMBERS Mr O-Gon Kwon, PresidentMr Jens-Otto Horslund and Mr Mr. Michal Mlynár
Subject:Request for an investigation after possible Dutch warcrimes in Iraq and the possibility of the prosecution of members of the Dutch government, if warcrimes have been confirmed. Dear Sirs
Although Covid 19 rages around the world like a roaring lion, it is of the utmost importance to remain focussed on the wrongs in the world, as you’ll know better than me.Today I take the liberty to ask your attention for the following, namely:something of the utmost importance, namelyReal or alleged Dutch warcrimes in Iraq, committed in june 2015 In my view, you should investigate A Whether we can speak of warcrimes according to the Rome Statute [1] on which your authority is based B It is possible for you to prosecute the Dutch government [government Rutte II][2] or members of that government?
CASE
Within the context of the Dutch participation in the military intervention against ISIL [called IS or ISIS in the Netherlands] [3], Dutch F’16s launched an airstrikein june 2015, targetting a factory in which ISIS was reportedly manufactering improvised explosive devices. [4]The factory was located in the Iraqi town Hawija.Horrible result:70 civilians were killed. [5] Not only the Dutch government was silent to the parliament about this deadly airstrike untill two newspapers revealed it , which led to the admittance by the government: [6], the Dutch ”justification” of what went wrong, I found very weird:Defence minister [not the minister, who was responsible for the attack, but her successor] Ank Bijleveld said the intelligence before the strike had indicated that “there were no civilians in the immediate vicinity of the target” [7] The most strangest thing, because the factory was located in a town with about 100 000 inhabitants, Hawija. [8] Besides, according to the NOS article [do you read Dutch?] ”In Hawija is niemand de Nederlandse bomaanval vergeten” [9] [Translated in English: In Hawija no one has forgotten the Dutch bombattack], where Dutch journalists interview people from Hawija, Hawija inhabitants confirmed, that the real/alleged IS factory was located in the middle of a neighbourhood.I quote [In Dutch]:”Midden in de wijk stond ooit een grote opslagloods van de gemeente. Die was het doelwit van de coalitie. De loods was door terreurgroep IS in gebruik genomen om munitie in op te slaan” [10]Translated in English:”In the middle of the neighbourhood once was a great storage shed of the municipality. That was the target of the coalition. The storage shed was used by ISIL to store munitions” If that is true, then Dutch intelligence whether must have known this [IS target located in a neighbourhood] and yet have taken the risk, or investigated the location superficially, not fully regarding the safety of civilians. And according to International Humanitarian Law, the protection of civilians times of war is essential, as you know better than me. [11] But there is more: I am not a military expert, but when an attack is launched on a target, which is reportedly manufacting explosive devices and one knows that the target is located in or nearby a city, one can estimate that when the explosives are hit, they are scattered widely into the environment! With all risks for civilians, unless they are exploded in the desert. And the Dutch military knew that the factory was located in the Hawija town! Again, they took a great risk with human lives and that is, in my view, unacceptable! WARCRIMES ACCORDING TO THE ROME STATUTE YOUR MISSION I know it is your mission to investigate, if military actions can be defined as warcrimes according to the Rome Statute and other human rights treaties.Reading the conditions under which you operate I’ve learned, that you may exercise jurisdiction under a situation where genocide, crimes against humanity or warcrimes are committed on or after 1 july 2002 [12], which, concerning the alleged Dutch committed warcrimes, is the case here [june 2015]Further, the crimes must be committed by a State national, or in the territory of a State Party or in a State that has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court. [13]As you know, the Netherlands has signed and accepted the Rome Statute [14] and so acknowledged the jurisdiction of the Court. An other conditon for your jurisdiction is the complementarityI read on your website:”The ICC is intended to complement, not to replace, national criminal systems; it prosecutes cases only when States do not are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.” [15] And, dear Sirs, that’s exactly the case in the Netherlands concerning the Dutch F’16 airstrike on the IS facory in Hawija, since the Dutch Public Prosecution Service. although it investigated the bomb attack on Hawija, saw no reason for a follow-up investigation. [16]
EPILOGUE Dear Sirs, I have submitted the case of the Dutch F 16 bomb attack on the IS factory in Hawija, in which 70 civilians lost their lives and I am of the opinion, that you should investigate whether warcrimes have been committed according to the definition in the Rome Statute and whether you are willing to prosecute either members of the cabinet Rutte II [under which the bomb attack took place], or the pilot involved, or perhaps both or other parties. Civilians are so vulnerable in a war and should be protected, as International Humanitarian Law says. [17]I think that in this case, where the attack was executed on a factory in a crowded neigbourhood, there is reason for your Court to prosecute those who are responsible. The dead will not come back, but Justice will be done.That’s my opinion and I sincerely hope that you have a case here. Thank you for reading this letter and much success with your work Stay healthy, in those terrifying days of Corona.
Kind greetings Astrid EssedAmsterdam The Netherlands
NOTES
[1] UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAHUMAN RIGHTS LIBRARYROME STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The airstrike triggered multiple secondary explosions in the factory, devastating the surrounding area and killing dozens.’ HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHNEW REVELATIONS ON DUTCH ROLE ON DEADLY IRAQ ATTACKNetherlands Remained Silent Over Role in 2015 Airstrike For Four Years 13 NOVEMBER 2019
”A Dutch F-16 jet serving with the US-led coalition in Iraq killed about 70 people – Islamic State (IS) militants and civilians – in an air strike in 2015, the Dutch defence ministry says.”
BBC
IS CONFLICT: DUTCH AIRSTRIKE KILLED ABOUT 70 PEOPLE IN IRAQ IN 2015
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50286829
[6]
”Recent news reports have exposed Dutch involvement in an airstrike in Iraq in June 2015 that killed at least 70 civilians, with the Minister of Defense finally admitting on November 5, 2019 that the ministry had known about the deaths after years of denial.
Two Dutch news outlets, NRC and NOS, reported on October 18 that a Dutch F-16 pilot staged the attack on the town of Hawija, 20 kilometers southeast of Mosul, which ISIS had captured in June 2014. At the time, the Netherlands were part of a coalition conducting operations against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria.”
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCHNEW REVELATIONS ON DUTCH ROLE ON DEADLY IRAQ ATTACK
Netherlands Remained Silent Over Role in 2015 Airstrike For Four Years
””Midden in de wijk stond ooit een grote opslagloods van de gemeente. Die was het doelwit van de coalitie. De loods was door terreurgroep IS in gebruik genomen om munitie in op te slaan’
NOS
IN HAWIJA IS NIEMAND DE NEDERLANDSE BOMAANVAL VERGETEN
The Court may exercise jurisdiction in a situation where genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes were committed on or after 1 July 2002 and:
the crimes were committed by a State Party national, or in the territory of a State Party, or in a State that has accepted the jurisdiction of the Court
The ICC is intended to complement, not to replace, national criminal systems; it prosecutes cases only when States do not are unwilling or unable to do so genuinely.
”Het OM heeft eigenstandig besloten feitenonderzoeken in te stellen naar vier gevallen, inclusief de drie door Defensie onderzochte gevallen. Hierover is uw Kamer openbaar en vertrouwelijk geïnformeerd. Zoals met uw Kamer gedeeld, hecht het kabinet aan open en transparante communicatie over inzet, ook wanneer dit slecht nieuws is. Dat geldt bij uitstek ook voor de uitzonderlijke gevallen waar mogelijk sprake is van burgerslachtoffers door Nederlandse wapeninzet. Daarom hecht het kabinet er aan uw Kamer over deze specifieke gevallen te informeren. In algemene zin blijft de afweging tussen transparantie en nationale en operationele veiligheid leidend. Het OM onderzocht de volgende vier gevallen, waarbij zoals gezegd in geen geval aanleiding was voor een vervolgonderzoek”
MEDEDELING AAN DE TWEEDE KAMER OVER DE BOMAANVAL OP HAWIJA EN DE ONTWIKKELINGEN ROND DE ANTI ISIS COALITIE
The public prosecution service has independently decided to investigate four cases,included three cases that were investigated by the ministry of Defence over which your Parliament has been informed confidently and publicly.As has been shared with your Parliament, the cabinet finds it very important to share open and transparent communication, even when the news is bad.This is also explicitly the case, in the exceptional cases when there are possible civilian victims due to Dutch military operations.That’s why the cabinet finds it very important to inform your Parliament about those specific cases.In general, the consideration between transparency and national security is leading.The public prosecution service has investigated the following four cases and saw no reason for a follow-up investigation” STATEMENT TO THE PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE BOMB ATTACK ON HAWIJA AND THE DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING THE ANTI ISIS COALITION http://content1b.omroep.nl/urishieldv2/l27m677e797b0a39d024005e63ac48000000.df389e427806cc57454a8a856b1f7358/nos/docs/181019_kamerbrief.pdf
[17]
The seven fundamental rules which are the basis of the Geneva Conventions and the Additional Protocols.
1 – Persons hors de combat and those who do not take a direct part in hostilities are entitled to respect for their
lives and their moral and physical integrity. They shall in all circumstances be protected and treated humanely
without any adverse distinction.
2 – It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat .
3 – The wounded and sick shall be collected and cared for by the party to the conflict which has them in its power.
Protection also covers medical personnel, establishments, transports and equipment. The emblem of the red
cross or the red crescent is the sign of such protection and must be respected.
4 – Captured combatants and civilians under the authority of an adverse party are entitled to respect for their lives,dignity, personal rights and convictions. They shall be protected against all acts of violence and reprisals. They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.
5 – Everyone shall be entitled to benefit from fundamental judicial guarantees. No one shall be held responsible for an act he has not committed. No one shall be subjected to physical or mental torture, corporal punishment or cruel or degrading treatment.
6 – Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have an unlimited choice of methods and means of warfare. It is prohibited to employ weapons or methods of warfare of a nature to cause unnecessary losses or excessive suffering.
7 – Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants in order to
spare civilian population and property. Neither the civilian population as such nor civilian persons shall be the
object of attack. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.
BASIC RULES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW IN ARMED CONFLICTS
US AIRSTRIKE KILLS TOP IRAN GENERAL, QASSEM SOLEIMANI AT BAGHDAD AIRPORT/US LIQUIDATION OF IRAN’S GENERAL SOLEIMANI IS STATE TERRORISM INTRODUCTION: Again, dear readers, wishing you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! https://www.astridessed.nl/happy-new-year-6/
Unfortunately however, the New Year did not start peacefully, with the US liquidation of Iran’s general Soleimani [1], being an extrajudicial execution and adding to the many crimes of Superpower USA. Besides:What is there to be expected from rogue president Trump, who makes is as a sport to violate International Law? [2]Also it is an utter scandal, that the Dutch government, which is bound to promote the International Legal Order [article 90, Dutch Constitution] [3], has declared, in the words of the Dutch minister of Defense, mrs Bijleveld, to ”understand” the liquidation of Iran’s general Soleimani! [4]I will write them about that, but that’s another story. Back to USA/Trump: Your Avenger of injustice would not have been your Avenger of injustice, if she would not have taken action: This time by a Letter to the Editor, which I have sent to a number of American, British and other international papers.I did the same with a Dutch Letter to the Editor, sending it to Dutch and Belgian newspapers. Since I, of course, don’t know, whether it is published at all, hereby I share the Letter with you. See firstly the Letter,Then, below, the notes, belonging to this Introduction piece. ENJOY READING!
Astrid EssedAmsterdam
A
LETTER TO THE EDITOR, SENT TO AMERICAN, BRITISH AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPERS:
US LIQUIDATION OF IRAN’S GENERAL SOLEIMANI IS STATE TERRORISM Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Unfortunately, this New Year has begun far from peaceful with ”thanks” to the US liquidation of Iran’s general Soleimani on the orders of president Trump.This liquidation is an act of war against Iran and will have dangerous consequences with very probably as main victims Iranian and Iraqi civilians, but also it endangers the chances of terrorist attacks, as in the USA as in countrieswhich agree with this insane Trump adventurism. But there is more:This liquidation of general Soleimani with six other victims like a high profile Iraqi military is a serious violation of International Law.To say it like it is:The USA is not at war with Iran [in which case Soleimani, as a combatant, would have been a ”legitimate” target], neither Soleimani launched an attack on American territory.And since there was no proof whatsoever of an ”imminent threat” [apart from not proven allegations of Trump] this is an assassination maffia style.Because rocket attacks on political enemies, also called ”extrajudicial executions” are a flagrant violations of the right to life, as the right to a fair and independent trial.And I am not alone in this:Recently Agnes Callamard, UN Special Reporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions has criticized the liquidation as illegal and contrary with International Law.Now I certainly am no adherent of the Iran regime, because of its systematic violations of human rights, neither of the role of mr Soleimani [being a strong supporter of the Syrian dictator Assad], but human rights are human rights, regardless, and the liquidation of human being without any trial is illegal.Therefore it is a shame, that the Dutch government has declared to ”understand” the Soleimani liquidation and it only shows, how little respect this Rutte III Dutch government has for the International Law that she is obliged to advance, according to article 90, Dutch Constitution.
Reaffirming again that the acquisition of territory by force is inadmissible,
Deeply concerned over the enactment of a “basic law” in the Israeli Knesset proclaiming a change in the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, with its implications for peace and security,
Noting that Israel has not complied with resolution 476 (1980),
Reaffirming its determination to examine practical ways and means, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Charter of the United Nations, to secure the full implementation of its resolution 476 (1980), in the event of non-compliance by Israel,
1. Censures in the strongest terms the enactment by Israel of the “basic law” on Jerusalem and the refusal to comply with relevant Security Council resolutions;
2. Affirms that the enactment of the “basic law” by Israel constitutes a violation of international law and does not affect the continued application of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since June 1967, including Jerusalem;
3. Determines that all legislative and administrative measures and actions taken by Israel, the occupying Power, which have altered or purport to alter the character and status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and in particular the recent “basic law” on Jerusalem, are null and void and must be rescinded forthwith;
4. Affirms also that this action constitutes a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East;
5. Decides not to recognize the “basic law” and such other actions by Israel that, as a result of this law, seek to alter the character and status of Jerusalem and calls upon:
(a) All Member States to accept this decision;
(b) Those States that have established diplomatic missions at Jerusalem to withdraw such missions from the Holy City;
6. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Security Council on the implementation of the present resolution before 15 November 1980;7. Decides to remain seized of this serious situation.
THIS SECOND TRUMP STRAPATZ IS A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, DECLARING ALL ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES ILLEGAL
THE ILLEGALITY OF THE ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS
THIS IS WHAT INTERNATIONAL LAW SAYS
”The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from transferring citizens from its own territory to the occupied territory (Article 49).
The Hague Regulations prohibit an occupying power from undertaking permanent changes in the occupied area unless these are due to military needs in the narrow sense of the term, or unless they are undertaken for the benefit of the local population.”
”Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other country, occupied or not, are prohibited, regardless of their motive.”
On the TV program Op1, Dutch Defense Minister, Bijleveld, says she understands why the US killed Soleimani and nodded to the awful atrocities Iran is responsible for, NOS reports. Nonetheless, the Netherlands, as a member of NATO, is focussed on de-escalation.
“A real crook”
Bijleveld described Soleimani as “a real crook” and discussed his involvement in the war in Syria as commander of the Quds Force.But she went on to acknowledge that the assassination of the leader created “a very fragile situation” and emphasised that NATO members are well aware of the potential retaliation from Iran.
Must focus on de-escalation
However, the minister said the Dutch government are focussed on de-escalation. Bijleveld referred to statements made by Stoltenberg, the secretary of NATO, who also stressed the drone strike was a decision made solely by the US and is not endorsed by NATO.
The Netherlands wants explanation from United States Government
Bijleveld believes the Netherlands and other countries should have been informed of the attack before it happened.
The Netherlands wants the United States to provide a “legal basis” for such a major decision. The US claim the attack on the Iranian general was “self-defense”.
In a letter sent to the House of Representatives, the cabinet says the Netherlands “will underline Iran’s negative influence on regional stability and point out the importance of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” during the upcoming meeting between EU foreign leaders scheduled for Friday.
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor US airstrike kills top Iran general, Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad Airport/US liquidation of Iran’s general Soleimani is state terrorism
It was one particular event that took place at De Balie (that was brought to my attention on Saturday) which began a closer look for me at the centre and made me question whether I wanted to speak there. I explain my position . I hope to return to #Amsterdam soon.
For those asking “Why cancel your appearance over one event”: 1. That “one event” was bad enough 2. That event inspired a closer look at the centre & what it represents 3. Only white people can play “free speech” & “debate all ideas” game. I am not white. This is not theoretical
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor Egyptian feminist Mona Eltahawy fights Islamophobia/Cancels her talk in the Islamophobic debating centre De Balie, Amsterdam
The glimpse of Julian Assange being dragged from the Ecuadorean embassy in London is an emblem of the times. Might against right. Muscle against the law. Indecency against courage. Six policemen manhandled a sick journalist, his eyes wincing against his first natural light in almost seven years.
Reacties uitgeschakeld voor Stadtepartnerschaft Andernach Dimona/Letter to the mayor of Andernach about the relationship with Israeli sister city Dimona
In Rojava, in the North of Syria, Kurdish fighters are struggling against IS, Islamic State. That struggle deserves out interest, because it is not just a fight between armed groups fighting for territory but at the same time a struggle for a different social and political order, called Democratic Confederalism. Direct democracy, a central rol of women in the fight and in the running of society, space for people of different ethnic backgound to express themselves and co-determine their own fate, libertarian socialist inspiration and a clear break with the Marxist-Leninist and nationalist orthodoxies of the Kurdish movements involved , the PYD in Syria, the PKK in Turkey with which the PYD is connected… all this gives many people reason to cheer the events as an important revolution – the Rojava Revolution. Others, however, are less convinced, some – myself not excluded – have serious reservations. Exchanges of opinions, sometimes furious ones, have been going on for months now. What follows is a contribution to this polemic.
. I hope to return to 
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Since late 2015, 249 Palestinians have been killed in Israel and the Palestinian territories [File: EPA]
Since late 2015, 249 Palestinians have been killed in Israel and the Palestinian territories [File: EPA]
