Intimidation against Iraqi trade union leaders condemned by the TUC and by LFIQ

TUC statement 15th October

The TUC, like most participants in the European Social Forum, believes in the fundamental principles of free speech and pluralism.

The TUC is dismayed at this morning’s events that saw a small minority of participants heckling and jostling the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, Subji al Mashadani, forcing him to leave the session.

We condemn the attempts of a few to prevent the views of Iraqi trade unionists from being heard. We call on everyone at the European Social Forum to support the decision of the organisers to allow Subji to speak tonight as originally planned.

The TUC believes that the voice of Iraqi trade unions should be heard. The IFTU is one of several trade union voices in Iraq and the TUC is of the view that all of them should be listened to if we are to help the Iraqi people to rebuild their country.

Our Congress reiterated our view that the war was wrong and that troops should be withdrawn as soon as possible. The only way forward is to allow people of differing opinions to have their say.

The TUC, like most participants in the European Social Forum, believes in the fundamental principles of free speech and pluralism.

The TUC is dismayed at this morning’s events that saw a small minority of participants heckling and jostling the leader of the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions, Subji al Mashadani, forcing him to leave the session.

We condemn the attempts of a few to prevent the views of Iraqi trade unionists from being heard. We call on everyone at the European Social Forum to support the decision of the organisers to allow Subji to speak tonight as originally planned.

The TUC believes that the voice of Iraqi trade unions should be heard. The IFTU is one of several trade union voices in Iraq and the TUC is of the view that all of them should be listened to if we are to help the Iraqi people to rebuild their country.

Our Congress reiterated our view that the war was wrong and that troops should be withdrawn as soon as possible. The only way forward is to allow people of differing opinions to have their say.

LFIQ note: we understand that the evening session was abandoned due to such intimidation.

LFIQ statement 16th October

"Labour Friends of Iraq condemns the lack of respect for free speech by some people attending the European Social Forum in London.

Stop the War Coalition leaders and others, unfortunately, have helped create a climate of opinion in which Iraqi trade unionists are portrayed as the equivalent of the Vichy regime whilst violent anti-democratic forces are falsely compared to the French resistance.

This was a shameful incident and we hope that labour movement organisations around the country will respond by inviting an IFTU representative to their meetings so that they can hear what the emerging Iraqi labour movement stands for and how to provide solidarity.”

Gary Kent, Director and Jane Ashworth, Chair