The Rape of Sabrine

Just got back from Ireland at 6.30am, hence the lack of blogging over the Easter period.

Since I woke up a few hours ago I've been looking at a different side of Iraq, one we don't see on BBC, RTE, FOX, CNN et al. I receive the Electronic Iraq Newsletter every couple of days which helps me to keep abreast of news from the ground. There are a number of Iraqi bloggers linked from their website. A blog entitled 'The rape of Sabrine' by Iraqi blogger Riverbend responds to the testimony by 20-year-old rape victim Sabrine Al-Janabi. Sabrine recently told the story of her rape by Iraqi security forces on Al Jazeera. She then had to face the wrath of the Iraqi Prime Minister who publically condemned her as a liar, subsequently praising and awarding the commandoes for their great work in securing Iraq.

Of course truthful news can be hard to come by in Iraq. Veteran British Middle-Eastern journalists Patrick Cockburn and Robert Fisk continue to struggle and report about the grassroots reality in the occupied territories of Iraq.

I would appeal to any readers of this blog to try an maintain an interest in Iraqi news. It's painfully difficult due to our seemingly powerless nature to have any positive impact to transform the carnage, yet minimally we can promote the stories that do not convey the official line of the occuption forces. If there is anything you decide to read on the subject of Iraq over the next month, I would suggest that Sabrine's story be it. Though a tragic tale of a crime committed against an innocent young woman, it is also a story full of hope - with women as brave as Sabrine and bloggers such as Riverbend online, hope that the truth will transpire from the mire of lies in occupied Iraq remains alive.