Iraqi state petrochemical company uses military to bust peaceful protest

The ICEM has learned from one its Iraqi affiliates, the Petrochemical Workers' Union of Basra, that union members were targeted by Iraq's military for leading a peaceful demonstration on 28 January in Basra. The protest was held in demand of wage arrears from a petrochemical facility, one of the state-operated petroleum operations in the south. In a communication to the ICEM from the union, management of the company requested that the army break up the demonstration "in a step reminiscent of former fascist policies." The army did intervene and brought protesters to a military holding camp for interrogation. On 2 February, management of the company began its own inquiry into the peaceful right of assembly, and targeted four workers with leading the protest: Kifaah Hassan Ibraheem, Qasim Abbas Muhsin, Kareem Johi Sahan, and Waleed Salih. The union is filing complaints with the government over the company's handling of this dispute. The ICEM condemns the Iraqi state company's interference of workers' right to assemble, and subsequent infringement and suppression of other rights. The Geneva-based ICEM will continue to monitor events in this one particular enterprise, as well as human and labour rights abuses that occur at any Iraqi workplace.