About us
The Swedish Iraqi Solidarity Committee (Svenskirakiska solidaritetskommittén, SISK) is a Swedish non-profit organisation founded in the year 2000 under the name Swedish Iraqi Committee against Economic Sanctions (SIES). The aim of the committee was to raise awareness of and create public opinion about the economic sanctions against Iraq, in force since 1993. Our standpoint was that the sanctions mainly hit the Iraqi civilians; 1.5 million people died because of the sanctions and the country’s economy, infrastructure, and social fabric were demolished. At the same time, the sanctions left the dictator Saddam Hussein intact and even strengthened. Several conferences were organised by SIES to throw light on these issues, and regular manifestations were staged.
SIES also worked to raise awareness about weapons containing the radioactive and poisonous heavy metal "Depleted Uranium" (DU), which was used in the 1991 Gulf War on Iraq as well as in the intermittent bombings during the late 1990s. The poisoning of Iraq was causing a steep rise in the incidence of cancer and birth defects. SIES was trying to get the Swedish government to speak out against the use of these weapons and against the sanctions, but unfortunately they did not listen and the government remained silent.
In 2003, when the sanctions were lifted because of the US invasion of Iraq, SIES changed its name to the Swedish Iraqi Solidarity Committee (SISK). The aims of SISK are:
- Working against the war on and the occupation of Iraq
- Continuing to work against DU-weapons
- Solidarity work with Iraqi grassroots organisations and civil society
The first aim is being pursued in cooperation with "The Network against War", a Swedish umbrella organisation for peace-organisations. SISK has participated in demonstrations and in the distribution of leaflets, and contributed to the translation of information material on the war and occupation. The second aim is carried out in cooperation with the Action Group against Radioactive Warfare (ARK), an organisation started by SISK members who are also active in the organisation. The third aim is pursued by supporting a children's library in Bagdad, started and run by members of the Iraqi Women's League (IWL) and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) through the Olof Palme International Centre. Another library, in the poorest part of Bagdhad, Sadr City, is currently being planned with the help of funds from Swedish Radiohjälpen and in cooperation with IWL.
Statutes
SISK undertakes to:
- Support the struggle against the occupation and the struggle for a free and independent Iraq on the terms of
the Iraqi people
- Support peace, democracy, and human rights in Iraq
- Contribute to the reconstruction of Iraqi civil society through practical and economic support to Iraqi grassroots
development projects outside the official sphere
- Help educate the public with factual information on the situation in Iraq
SISK's registration number in Sweden is 802403-8146
Board members
All board members work on a strictly voluntary (non-paid) basis.
Anita Lilburn, President
Sofia Altafi, Treasurer
Elise Rappe, Secretary
Birgitta Fritz
Marie Anell
Gabor Tiroler
Widad Zaki, Auditor
Download our financial statements
Financial statement 2007 (pdf)
Financial statement 2006 (pdf)
Financial statement 2005 (pdf)