(Originally posted 17 February)
Updated to include this photo of Anwar Kadhim Jawad and family.
Anwar Kadhim Jawad with her infant son Hassan and daughter Hadil `Adel `Abd al-Karim al-Kawwaz, 12. Anwar’s husband and three children were killed on August 7 by U.S. troops when their car failed to stop at a poorly marked military checkpoint. She gave birth to Hassan one week later. September 26, 2003. © 2003 Fred Abrahams/Human Rights Watch
A US speaking tour organised by CODE PINK to begin March 8, International Women’s Day, has been compromised by the U.S. State Department, which has denied visas to two Iraqi women wanting to participate. Anwar Kadhim Jawad, whose husband, son and two daughters were killed without warning by U.S. troops, is one of these women.
The other is Vivian Salim Mati, who lost her children and husband to U.S. tank fire as they fled the shelling of their neighbourhood, according to Global Exchange and CODE PINK.
“It’s appalling that the US military killed these women’s families and then the US government rejects their visas on the grounds that they have no family to return to in Iraq,” Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin said. “These women have no desire to stay in the United States. We had a very hard time convincing them to come, but we told them how important it would be for their stories to be heard by Americans.”
This. Is. Outrageous. Take Action here.