July 12, 2013 – The International Solidarity Committee of the World Social Forum is supporting the preparation of the first Iraqi Social Forum, scheduled to take place in Baghdad on 26-28 September 2013. One of the key aims of the ISF (Iraqi Social Forum) is to build peace and justice and overcome all forms of violence in Iraq. The very fact that the ISF is still scheduled to take place in the face of the current wave of bombings is in itself not only a challenge, but a way of defying this violence and proving that peace and security in another Iraq are possible.

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As International Solidarity Committee members, we strongly condemn all the current acts of violence, just as we have always condemned imperial wars imposed on civilians, who always pay the highest price. We particularly condemn attacks on human rights defenders and journalists, and those heinous acts that in Iraq have recently targeted children and youth practicing sport and other peaceful activities. Name of Organizations and Country   Ismaeel Dawood Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative international – دولية   Martina Pignatti Morano Un ponte per… Italy – إيطاليا   Judith Hitchman and Sergio Cordeiro Support to “Iraqi Social Forum interpreters’ team” international – دولية   Sabiha Ben Ammar Confédération Générale Tunisienne du Travail (CGTT) Tunisia – تونس   Feroz Mehdi Alternatives International international – دولية   Mireille Fanon-Mendes Frantz Fanon Foundation international – دولية   Elena Laurenti and Nicola Visconti A.D. Sport Against Violence Italy – إيطاليا   Pierre George Support to “Extended Iraqi Social Forum team” France – فرنسا   Mboirick Mohamed Gathering of Young Mauritania for Development Mauritania – موريتانيا   Olfa Mohamed Tunisian League of Women Voters Tunisia – تونس   Ahmad Jaradat Alternative Information Center Palestine/Israel – فلسطين   Gershom Kabaso Zambia Social Forum Zambia – زامبيا   Terry Kay Rockefeller September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows USA – الولايات المتحدة الامريكية   Felipe Daza NOVACT Spain – إسبانيا   Raffaella Bolini ARCI Italy – إيطاليا   Hamouda Soubhi Alternatives Forum in Morocco (FMAS) Morocco – المغرب   Muhanna Al-Shamary Friendship and Peace International Organization Denmark/Iraq – الدنمارك/العراق   Alessandra Mecozzi Italian Network for the World Social Forum Italy – إيطاليا