Another Iraqi trade unionist murdered

2 March 2005

David Cockroft, General Secretary of global union federation the ITF, today condemned the murder of Ahmed Adris Abbas, member of the Transport and Communication Workers’ Union and the IFTU (Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions). Cockroft said: “We are saddened to learn of the second murder of a trade union leader in as many months, and appalled that those who faced the worst that Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship could throw at them are slaughtered as they fight for the rights and living standards of their fellow countrymen and women.

“The IFTU has informed us that Ahmed Adris Abbas was killed in Martyrs’ Square, Baghdad on 24 February. This cowardly attack follows the murder of Hadi Salih, International Officer of the IFTU, who had been sentenced to death and exiled by Saddam but had returned promising to work to bring together all Iraqis no matter what their background, ethnicity or religion (see ITF Press Release ).”

As well as the two murders described above, recent examples of the targetting of trade unionists include:
The Murder of Ali Hassan Abd, a leading member of the Oil and Gas Union.
The kidnapping of the President of the Mechanics, Printing and Metal workers Union in Baghdad on 26 January 2005
The kidnapping of the President of the IFTU’s Mosul Branch in Mosul on 27 January 2005
The kidnapping of the General secretary of the IFTU’s Mosul Branch on 11 February 2005.  

ENDS  

For more details please contact ITF press officer Sam Dawson (details below) or IFTU in UK:
C/o Unison 1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Tel + 44 (0) 79 76 84 68 68.
Email: abdullahmuhsin@iraqitradeunions.org

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733,
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871.
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Website: www.itfglobal.org

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