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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

Man from Abu Graib, Haj Ali


A few months ago the entire world saw in their local newspapers the photo of the Iraqi prisoner standing on one leg, covered in a black cloth with a black hood over his head - accompanied by information from the International Red Cross that this man had been tortured by electric shocks to his genitals and other extremities by the US military. Here is that man, telling his story. His name is Haj Ali - an innocent civilian of the country called Iraq. Haj Ali tells us that it was his unbounded faith in God that saved him, that gave him the strength to endure the extreme pain, the abuse and the insults he was subjected to by American soldiers. One has to wonder, where is the God of the American soldiers or what kind of God do American men believe in that they feel so free to torture, rape and degrade thousands of Iraqi civilians?? One has to wonder, is America truly a civilized nation or are they the new barbarians masquerading as something else?

Albasrah.net

August 26, 2005

Before the Iraq war Haj Ali was the mayor of the Al Madifai district, near Baghdad. After the U.S. took control of the area he was removed from his position. As an official, he was required to join the ruling Baath Party. Haj Ali then worked as an administrator for a mosque, until he was picked up off the street one day in October 2003. Today Haj Ali works for a prisoner's association. He says he has no part in the insurgency.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: THE MAN IN THE PHOTO

Q: How confident are you that you are the man in that photo?

HAJ ALI: Actually the hood covered my head, and they took almost a hundred photos. Because all those who were present - as those who speak English were telling me - that whenever a soldier is visited by a friend of his, they would pull a prisoner and take a photograph with him.

They would put the prisoners in some abnormal positions and take photos with them. I experienced this situation. I am 100% sure of that.

I remember the American bean box, even the pipes behind me which were used to conduct electricity, they used two wires. I'm telling you what I remember from when they took the hood off my head, I saw the electric wires, one of them was black and the other was red. The end of the electric wires were hook shaped.

AFTERMATH OF THE PHOTO RELEASE

HAJ ALI: We were surprised that that an American [television] station broadcasted these photos. But we have two reasons to explain why the photos were released; the first is not that they admired the human rights, but because of the polarity of the American elections. And the second explanation for doing that is to instill fear in the Iraqi resistance, but it backfired on them to the nth degree.

Before that, a person was able to negotiate with them, but then these photos were published and the facts became clear about what the American Army is doing in Iraq and what the real occupation is.

What is more, is that the people who appeared in the photo and the process of their punishment occurred in such a jeering way. This meant the method insulted all of humanity. These have to be punished according to the Geneva [Conventions] or according to the American law.

AFTERMATH OF ABU GHRAIB

Q: When you were released, did anyone ever apologize to you? To this day, has anyone from the US military ever apologized?

HAJ ALI: No, never, they just said you were arrested by mistake … and they put a hood over my head. Then they put us in a truck with about 30-40 other people. And they just pushed me off the truck.

Q: How are you faring today?

HAJ ALI: Definitely, nightmares come, because I stayed five days without food or water, with torture. I always have this feeling, like conscious dreams. Sometimes these scenes appear in front of my eyes, even while I am not asleep.

I put my faith in God. Our strength and our resistance come from our faith in God, especially a person who considers himself not guilty and he is the object of abuse and punishment. There were others who couldn't resist [the torture], and they gave up names of innocent people to trade for their release from prison. But God gave us the strength, and we believe in God. For a truly faithful man, God gives the person the great strength to be patient to endure the pain, abuse and insults that we were subjected to. But keep in mind that not all people are equal in their tolerance. As I told you, there were people who judged others.

HAJ ALI TODAY

HAJ ALI: I work full time for the prisoner's association. The association's mission is to follow up on the cases of prisoners who have been accused of resisting the occupation. The group's name is the Victims of the American Occupation Prisoners Association.

The group aims to follow up on prisoner cases, their families, the sick. We make contact with prisoners and try to help them, and try to get treatment for them through doctors who have made efforts to treat them free of charge. And to follow up cases of the prisoners.

http://www.pbs.org/now/thisweek/index_042905.html#video
http://www.pbs.org/now/politics/hajali.html

Arabic
http://www.achrs.org/arabic/FullPhotoNews.asp?PNID=137

:: Article nr. 15081 sent on 26-aug-2005 22:12 ECT
:: The address of this page is : www.uruknet.info?p=15081
:: The incoming address of this article is :
www.albasrah.net/en_articles_2005/0805/hajal_260805.htm

Last Updated August 27, 2005 5:36 AM
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