world tribunal on iraq - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[WTI <tolga.temuge at worldtribunal.org>]

*WORLD TRIBUNAL ON IRAQ *

*TO COMMENCE TOMORROW*



*23^rd June, 2005, Istanbul* - "The World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) has
been convened to bring international law to bear on America's aggressive
behaviour around the world, with particular emphasis on the Iraq war.
This represents an historic attempt by the people of the world to hold
states and their leaders responsible for severe violations of
international law. The Tribunal has both symbolic and substantive
significance as a step toward the establishment of global democracy,"
said Richard Falk, UNESCO peace prize holder and Professor of
International Law, at a press conference held today at Darphane-i Amire
in Topkapi Palace Grounds. The World Tribunal on Iraq (WTI) will start
tomorrow, June 24, at 09.00 am.

Professor Richard Falk is the co-coordinator for the Tribunal's Panel of
Advocates together with Turgut Tarhanlž, Professor of International Law
and Human Rights Law. Speakers at the press conference also included
Hilal Küey and Hulya Üçpžnar from the Izmir Bar Association and Müge
Sökmen from the WTI Coordination.  The Tribunal will be launched by a
concert at the same venue tonight at 20.30 with renowned artists from
Turkey as well as Omar Bashir from Iraq.

The WTI participants from around the world include Iraqi witnesses and
experts as well as distinguished international figures such as *Dennis
Halliday*, former Assistant to the UN Secretary General and Director of
the UN Humanitarian Aid Programme, *Souad Naji Al-Azzawi*, Director of
the Doctorate Programme in Environmental Engineering in Iraq and *Phil
Shiner*, a human rights lawyer who has uncovered evidence that U.S.
troops have tortured detainees in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The
Jury of Conscience is chaired by award-winning author *Arundathi Roy*
and is comprised of 15 people from different parts of the world with
different areas of expertise.

The Tribunal will consist of three days of hearings investigating
various issues related to the war on Iraq, such as the legality of the
war, the role of the United Nations, war crimes and the role of the
media, as well as the destruction of the cultural sites and the
environment. The session in Istanbul is the culminating session of
commissions of inquiry and hearings held around the world over the past
two years (1). They have compiled a definitive historical record of
evidence about the invasion and the occupation.

The Istanbul session of the WTI will summarize and present further
testimony on the (il)legality and criminal violations in the U.S.
pretexts for and the conduct of this war. The expert opinion, witness
testimony, video and image evidence will address the impact of war on
civilians, the torture of prisoners, the (un)lawful imprisonment of
Iraqis without charges or legal defense, the use of depleted uranium
weapons, the effects of the war on Iraq's infrastructure, the
destruction of Iraqi cultural institutions, and the liability of the
invaders before international law for failing to protect these treasures
of humanity.

The organisers of WTI have extended an invitation on the17th of May to
U.S. President George W. Bush as well as the U.K. Prime Minister Tony
Blair to attend the Tribunal and present their case. No reply has been
received as of today.

A United States television network, Deep Dish TV, will provide a global
broadcast of the World Tribunal on Iraq. Deep Dish is offering all media
outlets a free one hour program for television or audio downlink each of
the four days of the conference (2).

The official web site for WTI www.worldtribunal.org
<http://www.worldtribunal.org/>  will be offering live audio and video
streaming of the Tribunal hearings in addition to the daily updates.

*Notes:*

1. Sessions on different topics related to the war on Iraq were held in
London, Mumbai, Copenhagen, Brussels, New York, Japan, Stockholm, South
Korea, Rome, Frankfurt, Geneva, Lisbon and Spain

2. Satellite Downlink Coordinates and Times for free rebroadcast:

June 24, 2100 - 2200 GMT / 1700 - 1800 US (ET) / 0000 - 0100 Turkish
Time (6/25)

June 25, 2100 - 2200 GMT / 1700 - 1800 US (ET) / 0000 - 0100 Turkish
Time (6/26)

June 26, 2100 - 2200 GMT / 1700 - 1800 US (ET) / 0000 - 0100 Turkish
Time (6/27)

June 27, 1000 - 1100 GMT / 0600 - 0700 US (ET) / 1300 - 1400 Turkish
Time (6/27)

Transponders:

Europe and the Middle East - Eutelsat WI, Transponder B3

U.S - Galaxy 10R, Transponder 9K, Slot A.

For More Information Contact:

Deep Dish TV - tel: 212 473 8933 - email: deepdish at igc.org
<mailto:deepdish at igc.org> - http://www.deepdishtv.org
<http://www.deepdishtv.org/>



*For more information and interview requests please contact:*

Tolga Temuge, International Communications and Media Coordinator, on
+(90) 533 644 4687 or tolga.temuge at worldtribunal.org
<mailto:tolga.temuge at worldtribunal.org>,

WTI Office in Istanbul, + (90) 212 244 7370

www.worldtribunal.org <http://www.worldtribunal.org>