Let the Forces of Change Unite

and Defeat the Power-Sharing System and Corruption

The early thirties of the last century witnessed the increased political and social maturity of the Iraqi working class, and its increased influence on all levels. This laid the basis for the long-awaited step of establishing its own political party, as other classes and social groups did, to defend its radical interests and lead its struggle against the ruling reactionary alliance and its British protectors.

To achieve this noble goal, Marxist cells in Baghdad, Basra and Nasiriyah united at the end of March 1934 to form the Iraqi Communist Party. It was a new-style party in the full sense of the word, not only because it represented the working class and its allies among the poor and deprived, but also for its programme and goals. They called for securing the interests and rights of workers, peasants and all toilers, achieving independence and national sovereignty and building a democratic system. It was also characterised by its relentless struggle, in contrast to other political parties at the time.

The Party has continued its dedicated struggle throughout the past eighty-seven years of its glorious life, and thousands of its leaders, cadres and members were martyred in the fight for the people's freedom and prosperity. These objectives were in total contradiction with the successive reactionary and dictatorial regimes that ruled Iraq. They unleashed campaigns of brutal repression, physical liquidation and political slander against the party, hoping to eliminate it from the arena of struggle. All those regimes, however, ended up in the dustbin of history, and the party remained lofty, proud of its comrades, as it continued its courageous struggle under its slogan “For a Free Homeland and Prosperous People”.

After the American occupation of Iraq and the fall of the tyrant, the new rulers pursued a disastrous policy, through the ethno-sectarian power-sharing system (muhasasah), corruption and relying on foreign powers. The hopes that the people had of ending the legacy of dictatorship and achieving dignity, justice and equality were dashed. As a result, public money has been squandered, corruption is rampant and services are almost non-existent. The high unemployment includes even university graduates. A third of Iraqis are below the poverty line despite that fact that their country is one of the ten richest countries in the world. The state has lost its prestige with the spread of militias and armed groups, sectarian agitation and killings, and the emergence of terrorist organisations that occupied two-thirds of Iraq’s territory. The corrupt rulers have thus brought devastation and destruction to Iraq.

These and many other reasons have made the process of comprehensive change a necessity that cannot be postponed. This is what the vast majority of the Iraqi people recognisd and translated into a tangible reality in the protest movement since 2011, through 2013 and 2015, all the way to the heroic Uprising on 1 October 2019. The slogans of the Uprising encapsulated the legitimate demands of the Iraqi people. These include the demand of early elections and its prerequisites: reforming the entire electoral system, including the Election Law and Electoral Commission, implementing the Law of Political Parties, and combating financial and administrative corruption, beginning with the big cases of corruption. The demands included the rejection of the quota system in all its manifestations and the provision of the necessary services. In addition, the protesters called for tackling unemployment and raising the standard of living, especially for the poor, the deprived and those with limited income. The national economy needs to be saved from its rentier character, by reviving the industry, agriculture and production services. While combatting terrorism, weapons must be kept under the control of the state. The national and democratic slogans of the Uprising also included calling for an end to regional and international interference in Iraq’s affairs. However, the rulers and those clinging to power not only refused to respond to these legitimate demands, but rather faced the peaceful protesters with bloody repression and blatant violence. Hundreds of young protesters were martyred at the hands of snipers and the so-called “third party” and thousands were wounded. In addition, the protesters were subjected to a campaign of slander and lies to tarnish their Uprising. This campaign was combined with fervent efforts to buy off some people and infiltrate the ranks of protesters in order to steer the Uprising away from its course. Meanwhile, a frenzied campaign was launched to target activists, kidnap and assassinate them, and many have “disappeared”. The rulers have resorted to this campaign because they realised that the Uprising will end their political existence and end their banditry.

Those in control of political-decision making to this day continue to build more political barricades because they believe that it will protect them from popular anger and the inevitably change. The most recent of these attempts was the new draft Federal Court Law through which they wanted to legitimise their hegemony and shaky authority, and to blow up what remains of the components of the civil state. However, it was confronted with broad popular and political rejection. After amending the existing Federal Court Law, the aspiration is now for a proper selection of its members and for the Court to operate in a manner that enhances the democratic and civil structure of the Iraqi state.

The heroic Uprising and the mass movement in general will be renewed with greater force because their causes still exist, and even increased in depth and size. This was recently demonstrated by the protests in the Nasiriyah and other Iraqi provinces.

Efforts are also taking place to form leadership and coordination frameworks among the protesters and hold meetings with civil and democratic forces, including the Iraqi Communist Party. They are working vigorously and with a high sense of responsibility to mobilise the entire political and societal spectrum that can change the balance of forces through peaceful and constitutional means. This includes active and wide participation in the upcoming elections with a tireless struggle to provide the requirements for conducting it with fairness and justice.

Let all the forces aspiring to change and have an interest in achieving it unite and work honestly and sincerely for what is in the interest of the Iraqi people and remove this ruling minority that has failed in everything except for thievery.

The Iraqi Communist Party will spare no effort to bring together the civil and democratic forces and all the patriots of our people in a broad front capable of bringing about the desired change, ending the ethno-sectarian power-sharing system and corruption and moving our country and people from a failed state to a democratic civil state and social justice.

Long live our Iraqi people and their national democratic forces.

Glory to the martyrs of the party.

Long live the Iraqi Communist on its 87th anniversary.

The Central Committee

Iraqi Communist Party

31-3-2021

 Iraqi women are resilient despite violence

and the coronavirus pandemic

The 8th of March is a day when we renew our commitment to continue the struggle as defenders of women's rights, contributing to tackling the country's problems in general, and those of women and girls in particular, and improving their living and social conditions in urban and rural Iraq. This includes responding to their health, psychological and legal needs, and ensuring appropriate shelters and housing to protect them from violence, exploitation and trafficking.

The 8th of March 2021 has come while we are still facing many health and environmental challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic and its social and economic impact, that are further aggravated by a complex political and security situation. The latter is caused by the ethno-sectarian power-sharing system and corruption that still plagues Iraq and its people. Despite these enormous challenges, Iraqi women have proven their strength of will and their high ability to confront difficulties and crises.

Local, national and international indicators and reports confirm that Iraqi women live under harsh conditions and are subjected to more injustice, neglect, violence, marginalization and exclusion, in addition to unequal opportunities. This is so despite their contribution in many fields and the struggle to assert their right to real political participation and on decision-making levels. They are also continuing to combat all forms of violence directed against them and fighting to abolish all unjust decisions and legislations that violate their dignity and human rights.

We, in the Iraqi Women's League, despite the difficulties that we are facing as women on various cultural and social levels, continue our struggle to unify national and civic efforts to reform the political process in Iraq. We fully respect the will of the people to build a just political system that saves Iraq from economic crises and political conflicts. We call on all the relevant executive and legislative bodies as well as the UN to ensure a woman’s right to participation at all levels, and to affirm the principle of social justice and gender. Women role must be asserted as basic and effective partners in the processes of development, construction, security and peace. It is essential to promote women's participation and economic empowerment, ensuring their safety and providing protection for them within the family and society. This requires expediting the promulgation of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence and its implementation by bringing to account the perpetrators and prosecuting them, ensuring that they do not get away with impunity. Full social guarantees must be provided for widows, divorced women, returnees from displacement, women with special needs, and women who provide for their families and are affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The 8th of March is an opportunity to celebrate our steadfastness in the face of great challenges, as well as an occasion to prove that we are able to bring about change in all fields and forums. It is also an occasion to raise our voice in the protests against all anti-people policies. It is a day to remind the Iraqi government and the international community of their commitments to women's issues, and in appreciation of women’s efforts and the sacrifices made by them every day. We call upon them to adopt development programs in order to extricate women, their children and families from poverty, destitution and deprivation, and strive to provide a free and decent life for them, protect their rights and abolish all legislations and decisions that rob them of their rights.

Long live the 8th of March, the International Day for all women. Warmest greetings to every woman who is striving to make our world a safe environment for all.

Glory to the women martyrs and the disappeared women in Iraq an. all over the world.

Women should enjoy a free, dignified and secure life

8 March 2021

1 March 2021

Horrific news is coming out of Iraq about the crimes committed in recent days against peaceful demonstrators in Nasiriya city, Thi-Qar province in southern Iraq. These criminal acts have been committed by the security forces and militias, under the very eyes of the Iraqi government and with premeditated planning of leading elements of the regime of political sectarianism, to suppress the popular protest movement. At least 10 young protesters have been killed and more than 260 others injured d by live ammunition during this latest bloodshed Nasiriya.

This is how the government continues to respond to the popular protest movement, which has regained momentum, and to the massive demonstrations that have taken place in support of the protesters in Nasiriya and in solidarity with their legitimate demands. This movement escalated on the 10th anniversary of popular protests that erupted on 25th February 2011, to get rid of the ethno-sectarian power-sharing system and political sectarianism and corruption, and to build a civil democratic Iraq and achieve social justice.

The tragic situation of Iraq and the deep-rooted political, economic, financial and health crises and its dire repercussions are casting a heavy shadow on the lives of Iraqi citizens. This situation has certainly the potential for further deterioration as long as the ruling forces remain in power. It is leaving more people with no choice but to defend their right to life and a decent living through various forms of peaceful protest as guaranteed by the Constitution.  

We, the undersigned, strongly condemn these heinous crimes and call for an immediate end to the massacres against the peaceful young protesters in Iraq.

We hold the Iraqi government responsible for the continued bloody repression of protesters and for allowing its security forces and sectarian militias to continue the killing, kidnapping, torture and intimidation of civil activists. We demand an immediate end to this bloody repressive campaign, and that the government reveals the identity of the perpetrators of killings and those aiding and abetting them, bring the criminals to justice, release all detainees and respond to the just demands of the protesters. 

Signatories:  

• Iraqi Communist Party Organisation in Britain
• Communist Party of Britain
• Communist party of Sudan – UK & Northern Ireland branch
• Tudeh Party of Iran Organisation in Britain
• Iraqi Democratic Movement in Britain
• Iraqi Women’s League – UK
• The Association of Iraqi Academics – UK
• Iraqi Cultural Cafe in London
• Free Faylee Kurds Organisation in Britain
• Iraqi Al-Ansar Communists League in Britain

Kurdistan Communist Party Organisation in B

14 February 2021

The Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party has issued the following statement:

We have followed with deep concern the Turkish army’s continuing incursion into Iraqi territories and the violation of our country’s sovereignty. This aggression has exposed the lives of citizens and farmers in the Kurdistan region, especially in the border areas, to great dangers and resulted in human and material losses.

Turkey, through these denounced actions, is violating all international norms and values ​​and neighbourly relations between the two countries, at a time when its rulers claim that they are striving for security and stability in Iraq in general and the region in particular, and to develop relations with our country.

While Turkey bears primary responsibility for the repeated violations, the international community and the United Nations must act to condemn this aggression and demand its immediate halt. The Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government must also fulfil their duty in this regard, and act in various ways and means consistent with international law to protect the lives of our citizens, their property and land, and stop these flagrant violations.

The silence of both governments, the federal and the regional, is neither justified nor acceptable in any case. It is their duty to totally reject attempts by Turkey, or any other country, to solve its internal problems at the expense of Iraq, its security and stability, and by terrorizing its citizens and violating its sovereignty.

In addition, the Turkish government should build bridges of understanding and dialogue with its opponents, including the political forces that seek to guarantee the rights of the people of Kurdistan in Turkey. It should provide freedom and true democracy and respond to the will of the people, instead of resorting to military operations, a scorched-earth policy and enforced disappearance of activists in prisons and detention centres.

It is certain that the just causes of peoples will remain and will not be extinguished by artillery and aircraft fire, killing, executions and blatant violations of human rights.

Today, as Turkey is showing more of its aggressive intent and hinting at the possibility of sending its forces into Sinjar, efforts must be exerted to foil its schemes and seek to restore normal conditions in Sinjar. People in the area should enjoy justice and receive compensation. Reconstruction should be launched in Sinjar, while sparing it from political conflicts and external interference, and resolving problems in the interest of its citizens, and the Yazidis in particular. This is necessary to alleviate their pain and suffering, in addition to exerting more efforts to uncover the fate of the kidnapped.

While renewing our condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Turkish aggression, we call upon the Turkish government to stop its military operations, withdraw its forces from our territories and respect Iraq’s sovereignty.