The kidnapping of Giuliana Sgrena

Statement by the Federation of Workers' Councils and Unions of Iraq.
Recently the gangs of political Islam in Iraq kidnapped Giuliana Sgrena, a journalist of the newspaper Il Manifesto, and threatened that they will hack off her head if the Italian Troops are not withdrawn from Iraq.
This terrorist and anti-human action is part of a string of similar operations perpetrated by criminal Islamic groups under the rubric of fighting against the occupation of Iraq and forcing the occupying forces to withdraw from this country. It is common knowledge that under no circumstances hacking off people's heads by Islamists can be justified by referring to the crimes committed by the USA forces and allied forces against people in Iraq.
These acts have nothing in common with human sentiments and behaviour and have nothing to do with the fair demand of the masses in Iraq in necessity of the withdrawal of the occupying forces and with people's aspirations in freedom, equality and prosperity. The terrorist and bloody practices of groups of political Islam in Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon,
Palestine, Afghanistan and any other place these groups exist indicate with no doubt that the desire to bloodshed is a key part of their methodology and essences no matter how different are the excuses and justifications.
We are in trade Unions in Iraq strongly condemn and denounce the crimes of kidnapping foreigners and Journalists in Iraq and we demand that this hostage be immediately and unconditionally released. We express our solidarity and sympathy with the family and friends of these hostages. The freedom-loving people in Iraq are relentlessly struggling to liberate themselves from the wickedness of these Islamic groups. They call on the civilized humanity to support and build solidarity with them in their struggle for freedom and to get rid of the down spiral of violence and terrorist conflict between the USA and political Islam.

Aso Jabbar
Abroad Representation of FWCUI
Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq-FWCUI
15 February 2005