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To:  United Kingdom government, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom, General Prosecutor of the United Kingdom, United Nations (Human Rights)

CONVICTED FOR WRITING POETRY

We the undersigned express our deep concern and anger concerning convicting a poetess under the Terrorist Act and finding her guilty for writing poetry. We are astonished and disappointed for such a verdict issued in a country which adopts democracy and even claims to spread it worldwide.
Convicting Samina Malik expresses a double standard in the United Kingdom policies; it even expresses deep racism - when dealing with Muslims - embedded in the English subconscious. The United Kingdom sets a refuge for Salman Rushdi – author of Satanic Verses – and Taslima Nesrin, challenging Muslims' and hurting their feelings by honoring Rushdi, claiming that it is the United Kingdom's principle to respect freedom of expression and opinion. On the other hand the principle of "freedom" evaporates when it comes to a young poetess who used this code of "freedom" to express her opinion which contradicts the official opinion, the young women was found guilty for writing poetry, an act which goes back to the Middle Ages in Europe, when Inquisitions suppressed freedom of thought and creativity, it is mainly reflected in prosecutor Jonathan Sharp's argument when he said (referring to Samina's lyrics): "These communications strongly indicate Samina Malik was deeply involved with terrorist related groups."
As the English court held Samina on intentions, the whole English society ignores that Tony Blair is responsible for war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq; British officials are blind when it comes to Abu Gharieb's torture crimes in which British soldiers are involved.
Clear violations of human rights in Iraq and Afghanistan committed by the United States and the United Kingdom brought catastrophe to the whole world, as all governments, especially in the third world, found an excuse to practice the most barbaric acts against their people. And now, after convicting Samina Malik for writing poetry, all dictatorships will find a great chance to practice more suppression of freedom in their countries.
Samina Malik was found not guilty for all accusations raised against her, except the accusation of writing "terrorist' poetry! Do you find it makes any sense?
"You arm dictators and bomb their people" this quotation is taken from a banner wrote by students of Colombia University. Now we can add: You claim spreading democracy through cluster bombs and arrest those who resort to democracy to express their opinions through peaceful means and art.
When did Great Britain start to antagonize art and poetry?
What if Samina wrote "cool" poetry about vampires for instance or sexual sadism of masochism? The girl said that she found it cool! Well in UK many young people act the same way with different approaches.
The United Kingdom is supposed to be committed to the Universal Declaration of Human rights which states:
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. (Violated by UK: Samina Malik's case)
Article 5.
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. (Violated by UK: Abu Gharieb scandal)
Article 7.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
(Violated by UK: compare protection of Rushdi to verdict against Samina)
Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. (Violated by UK: Samina Malik)
Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. (Violated by UK: Samina case)
Not to mention colonizing another nation (Iraq): a crime according to International Laws.

We demand that the United Kingdom would take its responsibility; to convict war criminals instead of convicting literature, to urge for real freedom and democracy instead of supporting and encouraging tyrants by irresponsible and inconsistent acts such as convicting Samina Malik.
We also call for freedom to the poetess Samina Malik, and abolition of all verdicts issued against her.
Free Smina Malik immediately and for ever.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

مرسلة بواسطة ppplist  # 8:29 م