- Kamal Qadir
Dr. Kamal Sayid Qadir (also known as Kamal Berzenji) (b. 1958 in
Arbil ,Iraq ) is a Kurdishhuman rights activist withAustria n citizenship. He immigrated to Austria in 1978 and studied law at the Vienna School of Law. He has taught at the University ofSuleimani (1998-99) as well as Salahaddin University inArbil (1999-2000) in South Kurdistan.He had been arrested in October 2005 for writing articles criticising (Iraqi Kurdistan ) regional presidentMassoud Barzani .He was sentenced to 30 years imprisonment for the crime of defaming the Kurdish cause [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AUSTRIA_IRAQI_CAPTIVE?SITE=NJBRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT] . The heavy sentence was widely condemned byAmnesty International ,Reporters without Borders and media. He was released from custody onJanuary 25 2006 , as a result of efforts by special envoy of the Austrian foreign ministry, Gudrun Harrer. The envoy intervened after the Austrian government deemed the sentence too harsh. He was later retried and the sentenced changed to eigtheen months. In april 2006 he was finally realeased.External links and sources
* [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AUSTRIA_IRAQI_CAPTIVE?SITE=NJBRU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Austrian Imprisoned in Iraq Released]
* [http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engMDE140462005?open&of=eng-IRQ Amnesty International] - "Iraq: Incommunicado detention/fear of torture or ill-treatment: Kamal Sayid Qadir (m), aged 48, Austrian national, writer".30 November 2005 .
* [http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=10927 Kurdish Media] - "Dr Kamal Said Qadir: Don’t let Kurds put their hands in my blood".19 December 2005 .
* [http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2006/1/kurdlocal83.htm The reality of Dr Kamal Qadir’s case in his sisters’ statements:We salute you Awaz and Galawej!]
* [http://www.ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2006/1/kurdlocal84.htm Dr. Kamal Sayid Qadir released in Kurdistan today ]
* [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/73362 RSF welcomes release of Dr. Kamal Sayid Qadir] - IFEX
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