6 November 2006

Arab Media Watch advisors Sami Ramadani and Tahrir Swift, both Iraqi exiles from Saddam Hussein's regime, are available for interview regarding his trial and other Iraq-related issues. Following are their profiles and contact details:

Sami Ramadani

AMW advisor Sami Ramadani was born in Iraq and became an exile from Saddam Hussein's regime in 1969, as a result of his political activities in support of democracy and socialism. He opposed the sanctions imposed on the Iraqi people (1991-2003) and the invasion of Iraq (2003), and is active in the movement for an immediate end to the US-led occupation.

He is a senior lecturer in sociology at the London Metropolitan University, a member of the UCU (university lecturers' trade union), and a member of BRICUP (the British Committee for Universities in Palestine, which campaigns in support of Palestinian academics languishing under Israeli occupation). He writes commentaries on Iraq for the Guardian, and contributes to many anti-war publications and websites, including Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation.

Tel: 07863 138 748
Email: sami.ramadani@londonmet.ac.uk

Tahrir Swift  

AMW advisor Tahrir Swift is a peace campaigner who was born in Iraq and lived the first 20 years of her life there. She came to the UK in 1979, fleeing Saddam Hussein's regime. She studied computer science at Essex University and worked one year in Libya, before coming back to the UK to settle down and work in the banking sector.  

She has followed the affairs of Iraq throughout Saddam's rule, the 1991 war, UN sanctions and the current war. These events prompted Tahrir to become a peace activist and follow closely the news and analyses on Iraq in the British media.

Tel: 01689 602 748
Email: tara_swift@lycos.co.uk