For Immediate Release
July 22, 2003
Liberation Update
News accounts are painting vivid pictures of the joy and relief of free Iraqis, who are living without fear of Saddam's brutality and beginning to enjoy freedoms unknown for decades. These voices have been silenced for too long, but now they are heard inside Iraq and around the world.
For more personal stories of life under Saddam, visit Tales of Saddam’s Brutality.
VOICES OF FREEDOM
“On July 4, some shops and private homes in various parts of Iraq, including the Kurdish areas and cities in the Shiite heartland, put up the star-spangled flag as a show of gratitude to the United States.”
National Post (Canada), 7/22/03
“Mobile phones rang Tuesday morning, ushering in the cellular era for Iraqis long deprived of the latest in information technology during their isolation under the fallen strongman Saddam Hussein.”
Agence France Presse, 7/22/03“Thanks to them [the U.S. army] the security is good. Without them, people would be killing each other.”
Abdul Wahed Mohsen, in Iraq, Los Angeles Times, 7/22/03
“Even the blind can see what Saddam Hussein did, taking Iraq into so many wars and doing little even for this town, no sports club, no decent hotels.”
Wail al-Ali, Tikrit’s new mayor, The Guardian, 7/22/03
“Also, some 85 percent of primary and secondary schools and all but two of the nation's universities have reopened with a full turnout of pupils and teachers. The difference is that there no longer are any mukahebrat (secret police) agents roaming the campuses and sitting at the back of classrooms to make sure lecturers and students do not discuss forbidden topics. Nor are the students required to start every day with a solemn oath of allegiance to the dictator.”
National Post (Canada), 7/22/03
“A stroll in the open-air book markets of the Rashid Street reveals that thousands of books, blacklisted and banned under Saddam Hussein, are now available for sale. Among the banned authors were almost all of Iraq's best writers and poets whom many young Iraqis are discovering for the first time. Stalls, offering video and audiotapes for sale, are appearing in Baghdad and other major cities, again giving Iraqis access to a forbidden cultural universe.”
National Post (Canada), 7/22/03
“We don’t know who are those people who say that. They are outlaws. They just want to make problems.”
Abdul Wahed Mohsen, on anti-U.S. sloganeering in Iraq, Los Angeles Times, 7/22/03
“The Americans are giving the Iraqis the space to get our affairs in order.”
Sheikh Khalid Al-Nuami, a representative on the Najaf ruling council, Agence France Presse 7/21/03
“We are flying with happiness since Saddam is gone.”
Zahar Hassan, in Iraq, Agence France Presse, 7/21/03
“There’s more opportunity, more chances to earn money.”
Um Khalid, on life in post-Saddam Baghdad, The Christian Science Monitor, 7/21/03
“There is a lack of security, but psychologically, things are better, because freedom is nice.”
Ali Shaban, in Iraq, The Christian Science Monitor, 7/21/03
“Let the Americans stay, they protect us. I don’t see them hurting anyone.”
A mother living in Baghdad, The Christian Science Monitor, 7/21/03
“Before it was all about Saddam and his followers. Now there are different topics.”
Hassan Ali, on the Iraqi newspapers, The Christian Science Monitor, 7/21/03
“He [Uday] was a sick man, and he kept lions and tigers just to show his manhood, to show everyone that he cared more about animals than people. But he amputated their claws, and he took away their freedom, just like the people.”
Alaa Karim, a Baghdad zoo employee, The Washington Post, 7/21/03
“[Uday] was a bad man, and he used to beat the soccer players if they lost a game. I think he used to treat the lions better than the people.”
Mussab Ismas, a 13-year old boy, viewing Uday’s lions at the Baghdad zoo, The Washington Post, 7/21/03
“But the shock for a first time visitor to Iraq is that the destruction committed by Saddam’s tyranny is so much worse than advertised. … The most horrible damage on Iraqis was inflicted by Saddam himself. The Americans who are giving their lives to stop his Middle East Stalinism will end up saving many more lives.”
Wall Street Journal, 7/21/03
“I can see that the American soldiers are free. In our old army, we were always under pressure and strict military orders. There was tough punishment.”
Raad Mamoud, a former Iraqi soldier, USA Today, 7/21/03
“Before, I would not even say hello to them [Iraqi army officers]. We are all equal now. This is justice.”
Husham Berkal, an enlisted soldier in the former Iraqi army, USA Today, 7/21/03
“When I heard on the radio that the Baathists had seized power I was not surprised. I was hoping it would make the situation better but, well, you can see. I have hope that things will get better now, that the new government can get rid of all the problems.”
Abdul Karim al-Qaissi, a pharmacist in Baghdad, on the anniversary of the Baath Party’s seizing power, Agence France Presse, 7/17/03
“But I blame the Baath [for problems with security and infrastructure]. It’s not the Americans’ fault. I like the Americans.”
Nuri Mansour, in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/17/03
“Iraqis were living a good life. We had security, jobs, people were getting paid. People used to get on and would help each other…”
Nuri Mansour, reflecting life before the Baath Party overthrew the Iraqi government in 1968, Agence France Presse, 7/17/03
“During the Baath Party’s time we didn’t see 1,000th of Iraq’s wealth come to us.”
Yasua, an Iraqi man in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/17/03
“I hope Iraq comes back strong. I am in favor of the new government.”
Uday Kadhu, a Baghdad car salesman on the Iraqi archery team, Agence France Presse, 7/16/03
“The residents of glorious Fallujah suffered from the confiscation of freedom and the absence of justice under the dictatorial regime.”
A statement released by the “League of Fallujah Residents,” Agence France Presse, 7/16/03
“The Governing Council is a step towards building a free, democratic Iraq.”
Iraqi newspaper Al-Zawra, 7/15/03
“In our opinion, the most significant thing about the formation of the transitional Governing Council is that it includes important personalities that are known to the masses and that represent the different political, national, democratic and progressive forces, as well as independent political organizations and religious denominations.”
Iraqi newspaper Al-Manar, 7/15/03
“I felt that we had gone back to the year 1930. I feel that Iraq has started back from zero. We have wasted 75 years waiting to taste freedom.”
Hadid al-Gailani, after the Governing Council announced the abolition of Baathist holidays, The Boston Globe, 7/14/03
“I helped deliver thousands of Iraqi babies, and now I am taking part in the birth of a new country and a new rule based on women’s rights, humanity, unity and freedom.”
Raja Habib al-Khaza’i, the director of an Iraqi maternity hospital and a member of the Governing Council, Associated Press, 7/13/03
“The formation of this council which represents all sectors of Iraqi society is the birth of democracy in the country. It is better than Saddam’s government of destruction and dictatorship.”
Razzak Abdul-Zahra, a 35-year-old engineer in Baghad, Associated Press, 7/13/03
“The establishment of this council represents the Iraqi national will after the collapse of the dictatorial regime.”
Muhammad Bahr al-Ulum, a Shiite cleric on the Governing Council, Associated Press, 7/13/03
“This is a great day. It’s unbelievable.”
Yonadam Kanna, an Assyrian Christian on the Iraqi Governing Council, Associated Press, 7/13/03
“It’s a hard situation. But now that Saddam has fallen, it’s OK. We can wait for the future now.”
Muhammed Abdul al Sudani, the night watchman at a school in Baghdad, Baltimore Sun, 7/13/03
“Iraqis are looking forward to this day. They have been dreaming for so many years to have a government run by not only one man.”
Sherwan Dizayee, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Los Angeles Times, 7/13/03
“The building of a new Iraq shall remain among the first priorities of the good Iraqi people. It will require the participation of all Iraqis from all political and social strands who are willing to help accomplish this historic task.”
Mohammed Barhul Uloom, an 80-year-old Shiite who has returned to Iraq to serve on the new Governing Council, AFX News, 7/13/03
“Saddam is gone, he’s history, he’s never coming back.”
Mohammed Barhul Uloom, at the first meeting of the new Iraqi Governing Council, Agence France Presse, 7/13/03
“In our view, political life must not be based on ethnic, religious or sectarian considerations.” Adnan Pachachi, former Iraqi foreign minister and current member of the Governing Council, Agence France Presse,
7/13/03
“Farther down the block [in Baghdad], a new Internet cafe just opened three weeks ago—$3 an hour buys you a satellite link on a computer that runs Windows, and a shortcut to Yahoo! E-mail is already on the desktop.”
Winston-Salem Journal, 7/12/03
“He [Saddam] occupied Iraq for 25 years. It’s not important that the Americans are here. What is important is that they got rid of Saddam Hussein. Now I feel free.”
Fadil Emara, a shopkeeper in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/12/03
“My optimism grows ten-fold every day. We’ve got a wonderful and brilliant future in front of us.”
Fadil Emara, a shopkeeper in Baghdad, Agence France Presse, 7/12/03
“In Saddam’s time, the mere act of pointing at something—a building, a person—risked attracting the attention of a secret policeman. Now people freely jab their index fingers on the streets. To a visitor returning, it’s something of a shock.”
Associated Press, 7/12/03
“It’s a dream for me to participate.”
Afrah Abas, an Iraqi archer competing in the 42nd World Archery Championships, Associated Press, 7/12/03
“We have been celebrating the Iraqi revolution and the fall of the kingdom every year. Today we combined the celebration with the fall of the second monarchy—the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.”
Aladdin Sabih, an Iraqi living in the Czech Republic, Czech News Agency, 7/12/03
“Cutting through all the barriers of religion, culture, war and economics are stores filled with hundreds of pairs of high-heel pumps, clunky platforms and spiked heels in scores of styles. Other stores with similar numbers—but fewer styles—of men's and children's shoes are open for business.”
Winston-Salem Journal, 7/12/03
