Following a mandate at a recent NEC meeting, I have been making links with the Student Movement in Iraq, trying to find out how they describe the situation they find themselves in, the many obstacles they face and their thoughts for the future. It has been an enlightening experience. Our fellow students in Iraq badly need our help as they stand up for progressive values in the face of the US/UK occupation, and also the forces of reaction in Iraq.

The following is a message from students at the University of Basra:

On 15 March in Basra, a group of students (both male and female) from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Basra organised a day trip to one of Basra's Parks in the Al Makhal area of the city.

Once in the park, the students were attacked by a mob of Islamist hardliners who told the students that such gatherings of young men and women are "an un-Islamic practice". The mob severely beat the students and shaved off one of the woman student's hair as a punishment in a practice eerily reminiscent of the atrocities carried out against women in neighbouring countries. 15 students were taken to hospital as a result of the brutal attack where they are still recovering.

The incident happened while local police were looking on. 12 police cars were reportedly at the scene while the attack was taking place.

0n 16 March as a reaction to the unprovoked attacked thousands of students (both male and female) from Basra's University marched in protest and in defiance of the attackers.

Students from all faculties of Basra University took part in the demonstration yesterday, condemning the attack. They carried banners with the slogan "No to Terrorism".

The Students and civil society organizations in Basra are calling on the local and national authorities to bring to justice the culprits.

Some of the students who were taken to hospitals were in a serious condition.

General Union of Students in the Iraqi Republic (GUSIR) - Basra branch on the attack on Basra University students

Statement issued by the General Union of Students in the Iraqi Republic (GUSIR) - Basra branch

About the attack on Basra University students
For a Free Student Life .. For a Better Future!

To the student masses .. and our people in Basra governorate

After sharing with our people the joy of elections, and looking forward to laying the foundations of democracy in the new Iraq, students at Basra University got proper permission for a picnic, which is one of our basic freedoms as students. But we were shocked when armed groups stormed through Al-Andulus Park and launched an attack on students, tearing the clothes of female students, stealing gold jewellery, mobile telephones and recording equipment. This act of aggression was a blatant violation of the basic principles of Islam as well as human rights. The attackers also made unfounded accusations that are totally false.

We look forward to your support for our continuing strike until our demand is met that the perpetrators are properly punished in accordance with the norms of a state based on law. We stress the need for abolishing "the Committees for University Security and Protection", which are run by forces that are hostile to progress. We also demand that the offices of political parties be removed from the colleges.

We all aspire to a democratic Iraq that would have nothing to do with Saddam's regime and in no way resemble the movement of Taliban.

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