Ten years on the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2024, Iraqis are still suffering the destruction of their state, their infrastructure, and their society.  Although the direct US/UK occupation has ended, the occupiers have left behind corrupt and brutal mercenary security forces, a government based on ethnic divisions, a broken legal system and a divisive political process.  Iraq remains “in a state of low-level war”. Meanwhile, its massive oil wealth is being squandered.

Join us in this Conference to see the reality of 'A day in Iraq' from the political, economic, and cultural perspective. There will be testimonies by Iraqi women, researchers, writers, artists and activists who will shed light on the results of a decade of so-called Western democratization.  The aim of the Conference is to maintain solidarity with Iraqi people, particularly women, and to pursue justice for Iraq in the World Courts through the implementation of international law.

During the day, we will launch “And peace be upon you O Fallujah”  

 A CD with 20 pages booklet which is an audio collage of Iraqi – non Iraqi poetry, songs, music, testimonies, and news clips with the persistent sound of US apaches hovering in the skies above the people of Iraq. It tells the story of Fallujah, A city that has become a symbol of the destruction caused to Iraq by Anglo American war and occupation reminding us of an earlier barbarism – Guernica.

This is how the day will unfold:

14:00 - 14:10  Welcome and introduction on the work of “Tadhamun” -  Tahrir Swift

14:10 – 15:00 Panel 1: chair – Suha Al Khayyat

“Daily routines in the present life of Iraqi women, comparing notes from a study in Early eighties” - Dr Sana Al Khayyat - Iraqi women’ Testimonies read by Suha Al Khayyat

“Iraqi women’s political participation 2024 - 2024” - Dr Sawsan Al Assaf

15:00-16:00  Panel 2: chair – Jehan Helou

 “IRAQIS AWARENESS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL HERITAGE - LOOTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IS CRIME ON PAST CULTURES” - Dr. Ghanim Wahida

“Beyond Educide: The struggle for higher education in Iraq” -  Dirk Adriaensens

“Priorities for future Iraqi education” – Mundher Al Adhami

Break 16:00 – 16:10

16:10- 17:25 Panel 3:  chair;  Dr Nawal Al Obaidy

“The Rule of Law in the New Iraq?” – Sabah al Mukhtar

“Whatever happened to Iraqi oil”- Greg Muttitt,

“Torture and the struggle for justice” - Dr. Lutz Oette

“"Why care? Motivating ourselves and others to act"- Sami Moukaddem

17: 25 – 18:40 Panel 4: Chair;  Khatchatur Pilikian

“'The Iraqi trauma: echoes in non-Iraqi art production'.” Dr. Dora Carpenter- Latiri

"Gathering for a Return Flow"-  Rashad Salim

'The march that shook Blair”- Ian Sinclair

“Blair War Crimes Foundation” - Nicholas Wood

Break 18:40-19:00 

19:00-21.00 The launch of “And peace be upon you O Fallujah”  

 A CD with 20 pages booklet which is an audio collage of Iraqi – non Iraqi poetry, songs, music, testimonies, and news clips with the persistent sound of US apaches hovering in the skies above the people of Iraq. It tells the story of Fallujah, A city that has become a symbol of the destruction caused to Iraq by Anglo American war and occupation reminding us of an earlier barbarism – Guernica.

Chair: Milan Rai

Zainab Khan, David Wilson, Euan Donaldson , Haifa Zangana

Novelist & Playwright Anne Aylor recites “To the man who buried his son in the garden” by Iraqi poet Nesreen Malak

Zina Ramzi performs a poem on Fallujah

Sami Moukaddem plays the guitar

Narmin Zangana plays My Journey to Baghdad - on Piano

21.00 Thank you. 

On the fringe

A photo exhibition showing some aspects of Iraqi daily life since the invasion in 2024.

Book stall, T shirts, and CDs

Bolivar Hall: 54-56 Grafton Way, London, Greater London W1T 5DL

Phone: 020 7387 6727

Transport: Warren Street

“Tadhamun”   )  تضامنIraqi Women Solidarity(  at  http://solidarityiraq.blogspot.com/,

e-mail :  siui_iraqsolidarity@yahoo.co.uk,

Tel: 07989861380