The National Mobilization Committee for the Defense of Iraq (NMCDI) in Jordan has initiated an academic book collection Campaign for Iraq. The goal of this campaign, which has been dubbed “the rebuilding of the Baghdad Library”, is to provide Iraqi students, academics and intellectuals with scientific and academic books and references that have been prohibited entry to Iraq for the past ten years. The excuse used is that these items are considered to be “double usage items”. Thus Iraqi’s have been denied the right to learn which is and internationally recognized and protected right.

NMCDI, which has initiated this campaign, is a Jordanian popular committee that includes political parties, many civil society institutions, unions, organizations and independent personalities. This committee was established for the sole aim of raising local, regional and international public opinion regarding the need to lift the comprehensive economic sanctions that have been imposed on Iraq for since 1990.