(…)
We have not included in the book photographs of the horrific details of war. As we know, such details distance the viewer from the sight, leading to the illusion that those who suffer such wrongs are far and away from one’s self. Instead we wanted to say, we are all Iraqis, what they suffer is what we suffer, or may suffer tomorrow. Not only their land, but ours too, is subject to nuclear pollution that cannot be undone for hundreds of years to come. Our hopes for finding peaceful alternatives to settle conflicts are also shattered, our future also darkened.
This documentary book is the result of the labor and support of hundreds of people who volunteered their efforts throughout the process: Experts of law, politics, history, ecology, toxicology, archaeology, economy, sociology and philosophy who generously shared their knowledge; lawyers who worked for months on preparing the framework for prosecution; facilitators who took part in various stages of the process trying to unite differing orientations towards a common aim and to resolve conflicts arising from differing views; translators; volunteers who ensured the smooth running of the sessions; individual funders who made it possible for tens of people to travel from different parts of the world; institutions and establishments who allowed us to use their resources, and most of all, anti-war dissidents from Iraq, who trusted us, acknowledged our legitimacy and endured various difficulties to participate in our session… Our conditions of working together renders it unnecessary for anyone to thank anyone else, because all who contributed to WTI did so because they wanted to and because they cared about the result. So rather than a situation where some can thank others, we have one where people have empowered and given confidence to each other.
We believe that the culminating session in Istanbul is only a beginning. Now the task is to disseminate these findings as widely as possible, and to make sure that whoever wishes to use this material can do so. We all have worked hard in this process but unfortunately we still have a lot to do, because the US and its allies increasingly continue their attacks. And there is no force that we can trust to stop these attacks, except for the global subject who says "no". This book is published with the hope that we will continue to answer the pessimism of the mind with the optimism of the will and never cease our collective resistance.
Excerpt from Müge Gürsoy Sökmen’s "Introduction"
Full volume available in English.
|
Click to go back