We join our voices to the appeal of M. Hani Suliman — attorney of Sheikh Mazhar Abdul Karim Al Khabit — to demand his immediate liberation by the Lebanese authorities.
Sheikh Al Kharbit is an Iraqi refugee and has been granted a Political Refugee certificate by the UNHCR. He has the right to be free and protected by international laws and agreements.
We call upon all institutions, organizations and associations concerned with refugees and human rights to raise their voices and wage a campaign for his liberation and ensure he is granted a safe political asylum in an Arab, Muslim or International capital.
Hana Al Bayaty, The Iraqi International Initiative on refugees — coordinator
hanaalbayaty@3iii.org
www.3iii.org
The Lawyer Hany Soliman: Sheikh Mazhar Al-Kharbit is on a hunger strike & his condition is critical.
A decree was issued to disclaim the delivery decree of Sheikh Al-Kharbit to the American Occupation Authorities, but the Sheikh remains under custody in spite of having been declared a Political Refugee by the United Nations.
Lawyer Hany Soliman — President of the committee of Human Rights & Public Liberties and attorney of Skeikh Mazhar Abdul-Karim Al-Kharbit has delivered the following statement during the Arab National Forum:
A few weeks ago the Lebanese Authorities (greetings to them) disclaimed the delivery decree to the American Occupation Authorities of high profile Iraqi personality and one of the most prominent Sheikhs of Al-Anbar Province: Sheikh Mazhar Al-Kharbit. Since, he remains kept in custody without any legal argument and even though The High Commission of Refugees of the United Nations has provided him a Political Refugee Certificate.
Despite the promise made by Sheikh Kharbit to leave Lebanon in order to save the Lebanese authorities from any embarrassment in front of the well known pressures, it seems these pressures succeeded after all in keeping him prisoner without any reasons.
This matter, and especially in front of the difficulties of procedures & acts taken against him without any reason as well, pushed Sheikh Kharbit to start a hunger strike a few days ago. He was transferred to the Intensive Care due to the complications of his health condition. These difficulties were accompanied by a campaign of defamation launched by the American Media & broadcasted by some Arab Media, to ruin his reputation & his political attitude without being given any chance to clarify his situation or deny these allegations.
Therefore, due to the serious human condition of the Sheikh and due to the complete absence of any legal reason or argument for his detention, we are asking the concerned authorities to set him free at once. We are applying to all the establishments concerned with Human Rights & involved in supporting the Iraqi people to act on all levels, in order to save Sheikh Al-Kharbit, release him and provide him a safe asylum in a secured Arab, Muslim or International capital.
In this context, we are calling upon Arab Kings, Presidents, Princes or Heads of States for an urgent move & for making contacts with the Lebanese Authorities in order to provide him a secure reception in any Arab Capital.
The catastrophe of Sheikh Kharbit is representative of the catastrophe of all free Iraqi men, who are, on the one side, tracked down by the Occupation Authorities, and on the other, left alone by the Arab & Muslim Leaders who have given up their duties towards them & are denying them their most basic rights.
14th of April 2008.
المحامي هاني سليمان: مظهر الخربيط مضرب عن الطعام وحالته الصحية خطرة – صدر مرسوم استرداد مرسوم التسليم لسلطات الاحتلال لكن الخربيط ما زال محتجزاً رغم ان الامم المتحده تعتبره لاجئاً سياسياً.
ادلى المحامي هاني سليمان رئيس لجنة حقوق الانسان والحريات العامة في المنتدى القومي العربي وكيل الشيخ مظهر عبد الكريم الخربيط بما يلي:
منذ ان تراجعت قبل اسابيع السلطات اللبنانية مشكورة واستردت مرسوم تسليم الشخصية العراقية المعروفة واحد ابرز مشايخ الانبار الشيخ مظهر عبد الكريم الخربيط الى سلطات الاحتلال الامريكي، ما زال الخربيط قيد الاعتقال دون اي سند قانوني، علما ان مفوضية اللاجئين في الامم المتحدة منحته شهادة تفيد انه لاجئ سياسي.
ورغم تعهد السيد الخربيط بالسفر خارج لبنان لكي لا يتسبب باحراج السلطات اللبنانية امام الضغوط المعروفة، فان هذه الضغوط نجحت، على ما يبدو، في ابقائه سجيناً رغم عدم وجود اي مبرر لذلك.
ولقد دفع هذا الامر بالسيد الخربيط الى اعلان الاضراب عن الطعام منذ عدة ايام، خصوصاً مع اشتداد الاجراءات المتخذة بحقه دون مبرر ايضاً، مما ادى الى نقله الى العناية الفائقة حيث يواجه ظروفاً صحية بالغة الصعوبة رافقتها حملة تشويه لصورته وموقفه السياسي قامت بها اجهزة اعلام امريكية وتناقلتها وسائل اعلام عربية دون ان تتاح له فرصة توضيح موقفه الواضح من هذه الافتراءات.
اننا ازاء الوضع الانساني الخطير للسيد الخربيط، وازاء انتفاء اي مبرر قانوني لاستمرار الاعتقال، ندعو الجهات المختصة الى الافراج الفوري عنه، كما ندعو كل المرجعيات والهيئات المعنية بحقوق الانسان والمهتمة بمناصرة الشعب العراقي الى التحرك على كل المستويات من اجل انقاذ الخربيط والافراج عنه وتأمين ملاذ آمن له في عاصمة عربية او اسلامية او دولية.
وفي هذا الاطار نتوجه الى الملوك والرؤساء والامراء العرب بنداء عاجل للتحرك والاتصال بالسلطات اللبنانية من اجل توفير استقبال له في اية عاصمة عربية.
ان محنة الخربيط تلخص اليوم محنة كل العراقيين الاحرار الذين تلاحقهم سلطات الاحتلال من جهة، فيما يتنصل المسؤولون العرب والمسلمون من ابسط واجباتهم تجاه.