WIDE-RANGING CULTURAL ACTIVITIES PROMOTE NONVIOLENCE

The culture of nonviolence as an essential path to political, social and economic change was lauded in Iraq for a week in October with poetry readings, art exhibitions, television programs and films, theatrical productions, dances, operettas, sporting meets -- even a children’s operetta on peace -- and the symbolic release of doves and balloons over the skies of the war-weary country.

Across Iraq, from Mosul to Basra, in Baghdad, cities and rural sectors in all 18 governates, a distinctive blue poster depicting the white dove of peace in flight with a ballot box in its grip was plastered on highway lighting poles, on fences around fields, on buildings and even on military check points. The posters and other literature describing the nonviolence methods of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were handed out to soldiers, shoppers, school children, police, politicians, youth and women’s groups, in an intensive week of activities aimed at spreading the culture of nonviolence.

A variety of peaceful actions were led by provincial representatives of a nonprofit coalition known as LaOnf (“No Violence” in Arabic). In a society where extreme caution is required and the fear of violence plagues everyday life, even hanging a poster can be fraught with danger. In Haweja, Kirkuk, two men hanging posters were arrested by the police and detained for two hours. Unknown armed forces interfered with activists in Reyad, but the situation was peacefully diffused.

According to a founder of the three-year-old LaOnf, “Today, LaOnf exists within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq where if you speak of resistance to you are accused of supporting terrorists and advocating violence; but if you speak of nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation. LaOnf seeks to create a third way with its message that nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism and corruption.”

At seminars, workshops, public meetings and speeches, Iraqis from all walks of society gathered to discuss techniques of nonviolence and how they can help to make the upcoming provincial elections demonstrate integrity, transparency and impartiality toward all voters, including women and to those of different clans and faiths. Provincial elections have been mandated by the Iraqi parliament to take place by January 31, 2009.

In Karbala, politicians, academics and the public heard a local journalist describe the benefits of nonviolence and fairness in elections and formed a board to send letters to political parties to support the government’s efforts toward this, and to appeal to the Iraqi army and police to maintain professionalism in protecting all citizens at the polls.

Seminars and a nonviolence festival in Kirkuk gathered tribal elders, government officials, heads of multinational forces and people of all sects, religions and nationalities. One group formed a consensus that nonviolence leads to stability and the preservation of rights and freedoms. In its concluding statement, the festival condemned the forced displacement of Christians and was so popular that the participants demanded the affair be an annual event. Many meetings were held with district judiciaries, clans, and heads of local councils.

Children, as in all wars, have been particularly hard hit by the violence, and a special spotlight was focused on them. LaOnf has pressed successfully for legislation to ban toy guns in one governate, and is doing the same in others. Children have been killed by nervous soldiers who could not tell that life-life guns were only toys, and LaOnf members exchange soccer balls and other toys for toy guns and violent games. During the week, children’s schools and institutions in Babil (Babylon), Baghdad, Dahuk, DhiQar (Nasiriya), Erbil, Kirkuk, Muthanna (Samawah), and Najaf, were visited.

Athletic games were organized and children were given peaceful toys with the advice “Nonviolence brings you gifts and games, while violence brings terrorism and murder.” They were reminded how good it felt when Iraq won the Asian Cup for soccer through teamwork and solidarity within the team and with the support of fans. Youth in Salahuddin (Tikrit) organized a soccer match that was attended by top local officials, and wore team shirts that read “Nonviolence is our Choice”. Other sports events took place in Ninewa (Mosul) and elsewhere.

Blind children in Al-Qadisiyyah (Diwaniya) recited poetry of peace and children from the Institute for the Deaf enacted a play titled, “Peace Iraq”. In Erbil, children performed Kurdish traditional dances and a circus show, and received booklets about Gandhi and peace in Iraq. Satellite television covered the event, which concluded with a release of balloons symbolizing peace and nonviolence.

Women are also hard hit by war, violence and inequality. LaOnf is adamant that women be treated equally at the ballot box, and mandates a percentage of their leadership be women. Women’s groups throughout the country met to discuss nonviolence and take part in the range of activities. Violence against women was denounced, and visits were made to women’s unions, clubs and those in institutions suffering from domestic violence. A variety of pressures, including war, have caused a rash of hundreds of cases of Kurdish women burning themselves to death. Victims of violence were brought gifts in Dahuk and were encouraged to forego violence.

Television, radio and newspaper coverage of the events, as well as the widespread use of distinctive posters brought the message of nonviolence to thousands across Iraq. The art exhibition in Maysan (Amarah) that was to last two days is now permanent at the al-Huda Institution for Studies, by popular demand. The Institute, which has a large library of religious, historical and political books and an internet café, is host now to a steady stream of visitors who come to see the nonviolence-themed paintings under the banner “The permanent Display of the LaOnf Iraqi Group in Maysan for the Rejection of Violence and Electoral Violence.”

Many new members have joined LaOnf as a result of the activities, and the 2009 Week of Nonviolence is expected to be even larger and more exciting. Through personal interaction, cultural displays and discussion, nonviolence appears to slowly be bringing hope to the people of Iraq.