Interim Report - Report No 60, 1962

Case No 260 (Iraq) - Complaint date: 07-FEB-61 - Closed

1. 8. The complaints of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Iraq and of the W.F.T.U are contained in two communications addressed directly to the I.L.O on 7 February and 19 May 1961 respectively.

A. A. The complainants' allegations

1. 9. The complainants make allegations relating to the arrest of the principal officers of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Iraq, the arrest and sentencing by military tribunals of striking workers and of trade unionists who submitted wage claims, the use of firearms by the police against demonstrating workers, as a result of which eight persons were killed, the dismissal of thousands of workers because of their trade union activities, the arrest of the editor of the main trade union newspaper, the armed occupation of trade union premises, the serious and repeated interference by the authorities in trade union elections, the repression of trade union rights by arbitrary decrees, etc.
2. 10. The complaint of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Iraq was transmitted to the Government of Iraq, for its observations, by a letter dated 18 May 1961, in which it was explained to the Government that, as matters involving human life and personal freedom were raised in the complaint, the case fell within the category of cases regarded by the Governing Body as urgent, in accordance with the decision taken by the Governing Body at its 140th Session (November 1958). For this reason the Government was requested to furnish as speedy a reply as possible. The complaint of the W.F.T.U was transmitted to the Government by a letter dated 27 June 1961 in which the Government was again requested to furnish its observations on the complaint of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Iraq. On three subsequent occasions-5 September and 28 November 1961 and 23 January 1962-letters were addressed to the Government requesting it to furnish its observations on both complaints as early as possible. No acknowledgment of any of these communications has been received from the Government.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 11. In these circumstances the Committee recommends the Governing Body to request the Government of Iraq to furnish its observations on the two complaints as a matter of urgency.