Speaking out against war and racism
Dozens of people gathered in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall on 6 September to protest the Abbott government’s proposed “anti-terror” laws and to oppose foreign intervention in Iraq.
Co-organiser Tasnim Sammak linked the Abbott government’s calls for intervention in the Middle East to domestic politics – in particular, the unpopularity of the Liberals’ horror budget. “They are using Iraq and Syria to distract from domestic issues”, she said. “And they are playing on stereotypes. The Australian people should be concerned: these laws are giving ASIO huge spying powers. We don’t know their extent. It is an issue of privacy, of civil liberties. We call ourselves a democracy, but we are losing democracy every day.”
Mohammed Ramahi, 25, is an Australian-born Palestinian. “I get told every day to go back to my own country”, he told Red Flag. “I’ve spoken to people who’ve been kicked off flights, detained and had to explain every photo in their phone. Everyone deserves rights, and Tony Abbott is taking away every one of them.”
Asil, 17, shares Mohammed’s courage and passion. “I call myself Asil al-Iraqi”, she said. “I’m a peace activist. I’m here to say no to war.” We talked about how the climate of fear affects her: “I feel so unsafe. I feel that this government doesn’t care about people.”
Asil took the microphone and addressed the small crowd: “Iraqi children used to play outside. Now they can’t. Iraqis are afraid to go outside. Iraqi children see guns and tanks every day. If you go to school you must hug your mother goodbye because you might not come back.”
