April 6, 2024 | Baghdad

To All Concerned Citizens and Advocates for Environmental Justice,

Nature, resilient as it may be, is under dire threat from human greed and negligence. Today, we are witnessing the tragic culmination of years of disregard for the delicate ecosystem of the Hawizeh Marshes in Maysan Governorate. The crisis unfolding before us demands immediate attention and decisive action.

For far too long, the authorities have subjected the Marsh Arabs to unjust limitations on their access to their ancestral lands. The Hawizeh Marshes, once a thriving sanctuary of biodiversity and cultural heritage, are now facing unprecedented peril. Reports from the region paint a grim picture of relentless encroachment and deliberate obstruction, as the very lifeblood of the marshes is diverted and its guardians are barred entry.

The border police in Al-Hawizeh have callously severed the connection between the Marsh Arabs and their homeland, employing barbed wire and bridges to enforce their unjust dictates. This siege on the marshes is not merely an inconvenience; it is a direct assault on the rights and livelihoods of the indigenous communities who have stewarded these lands for generations.

We stand in solidarity with the Ahwaris and all those who refuse to surrender to this injustice. Their peaceful protests echo the timeless cry for justice and dignity in the face of oppression. Yet, their voices are met with empty promises and indifference from those in power.

The unfolding tragedy is compounded by the insidious encroachment of oil interests, driven by short-sighted exploitation and profit-seeking. The proposed development of the Hawizeh oil field threatens to deliver the final blow to the already beleaguered marshes, wiping out the last vestiges of this ancient ecosystem and the resilient communities that call it home.

We cannot stand idly by as greed and neglect conspire to destroy one of the world’s most precious natural treasures. The time for action is now. We call upon all concerned citizens, environmental advocates, and defenders of justice to join us in solidarity with the Marsh Arabs. Together, we must raise our voices, amplify their cries, and demand an immediate halt to the destruction of the Hawizeh Marshes.

Let us heed the urgent call of Mustafa Hashem and countless others who refuse to be silenced in the face of adversity. Let us defend the rights of the Marsh Arabs and protect the Hawizeh Marshes from further harm. Our collective future depends on the choices we make today.

Humat Dijlah Association