PHOTO SO, PASCAL COUILLAUD
(Tareq Yassin, Sylvyane Husin-Lambert, it responsible for the Readers of Baghdad, and Hassan Abdelhamid)
Readers of Baghdad. Tareq Yassin and Hassan Abdelhamid have just arrived at the Small rock. They evoke the change of mode of the everyday life in Iraq Iraq in rebuilding
Tareq Yassin, after two years of collaboration with association the Readers of Baghdad, just comes to arrive to France to make a point with the persons in charge rochelais of association on the needs for assistances in the schools in Iraq. A voyage which coincides with the residence in the Intermondes Center of the journalist and critical of art Hassan Abdelhamid.
The first did not come to France since 1990. The second puts at it the feet for the first time. The shock of the cultures is felt and does nothing but reinforce the desire of its two Iraqis for rebuilding a free country as fast as possible.
"Sud-Ouest ". How the people Iraqi react does to the behaviour of the lawsuit of the former Saddam Hussein dictator?
Hassan Abdelhamid. It should have been held it is a long time. This lawsuit is necessary to return to justice to the Iraqi people victim of this man. The file relating to it weighs 63 tons, it is to say if it made evil. But today, Iraqi starts to live and to occupy itself of other things. For us, Saddam is finished for a long time. To speak about him, as the media currently do it, it is him to give an importance which it does not deserve. It made evil everywhere around him, even in its own family. It stole me all my dreams of child. Tous.les.jours, of the men and the women die because of the heritage left by Saddam Hussein. Terrorism takes as a starting point the the presence of this man.
How the Iraqis live do terrorism with the daily newspaper?
Hassan Abdelhamid. The Iraqis live as if they played the Russian roulette. It is known when one leaves but it is never known if one will return. But the people took the practice. The fear is a need to survive. Today, people live normally. The children go to the school. The adults will work. The life stops only when there is an attack. The media exaggerate the situation in Iraq, whereas the country is being rebuilt. Certain Arab chains diffuse the bodies of the victims of the attacks. You never saw those of the victims of the attacks of London! It is a manner of poking violence. They cause ethnic wars by diffusing such messages.
A referendum took place last week to decide new constitution of Iraq. Is this important for the Iraqis?
Tareq Yassin. It is the second time that we vote. At the time of Ancien Régime, we were certain to 100 % of the result. Now, we can choose which paper we want to put in the ballot box. We decide our government. It is important for the citizens. The Iraqis face the dangers and the threats of the terrorist troops to go to vote. It is a political act. The large majority of the Iraqis want to rebuild a state of law where the citizen is protected by the laws. It is different from the time when Saddam had rights on all the citizens. Food was given to the people like gifts. Today, in fact the poorest classes are happiest, because they were not regarded as citizens, front.
Hassan Abdelhamid. We think especially of our children, who are learning another thing today. They know all the names of tanks and bombers, but do not even know the name of certain fruits or certain toys.
Did the daily newspaper of the Iraqis change much since the fall of the mode of Saddam Hussein?
Tareq Yassin. We can come freely to France today! We are not obliged to ask for the political asylum.
Hassan Abdelhamid. The economic level is much higher. At the time a civil servant gained 2 dollars per month and the mode had the monopoly of the products of first need. Today, this same civil servant gains 400 euros. Imagine the difference! We also enjoy an extreme freedom. The mode felt the danger which the culture could constitute and did all to destroy it. To have a parabola could mean the death penalty. Now, we have the satellite and Internet. We have also a freedom of expression: at the time of Saddam Hussein, there were four newspapers and magazines of the party and the State. They was propaganda sheets. Today, there is more than 120 daily newspapers. And I do not even speak to you about the magazines.
Anne Le Gal