Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Iraq (Ratification: 1959)

Article 1(a), (c) and (d) of the Convention. Penal sanctions involving compulsory labour as a punishment for expressing political views, for breaches of labour discipline and for participation in strikes. Over a number of years, the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to the impact on the application of the Convention of the provisions of the national legislation (the Penal Code, the Law respecting the press, the Law respecting societies and other texts), which restrict the exercise of certain civil rights and public freedoms and under which violations may be punished by sentences of imprisonment, which involves an obligation to work (sections 87 and 88 of the Penal Code).

The Committee referred in particular to the following legislative provisions:

• -section 43 of Act No. 1 of 1960 respecting societies, in conjunction with section 23 (suspension of the activities of societies for 30 days), and section 26(b) (dissolution of societies, the aims of which are contrary to the Republican regime or the requirements of the regime, etc.);
• -section 16 of Law No. 206, which provides for a penalty of imprisonment for the publication in the press of prohibited material, such as those which are harmful to the authorities and which propagate certain ideas;
• -the restrictions imposed by the legislation on the freedom of expression, and particularly section 225 of the Penal Code, as amended by Decision No. 840 of 4 November 1986, under which insults against the authorities are punishable with sentences of imprisonment; and
• -sections 1 to 4 of Law No. 7 of 1958 concerning the punishment of those who plot against the security of the State (directing the country’s policy against the national interest, issuing laws for the benefit of a certain number of persons against the common welfare, influencing morale by circulating alarming rumours, etc.).

The Committee also requested the Government to provide information on the application in practice of certain provisions of the Penal Code under the terms of which sentences of imprisonment (involving compulsory labour) may be imposed for the following activities:

• -section 201 (making propaganda for Zionism or adhering to any Zionist organization or assisting it morally or materially, or working in any capacity to achieve its objectives);
• -section 202 (treating with contempt in public the Iraqi nation or people or any group of inhabitants of Iraq);
• -section 210 (deliberately broadcasting false or misleading news, statements or rumours likely to cause alarm or despondency, disturb the peace or damage the national interest);
• -section 215 (possessing, procuring, issuing or holding with a view to trading, distributing or offering images, drawings or written materials likely to disturb public security or impair the prestige or standing of the country, with a view to giving a false or distorted impression of events);
• -section 221 (convening, controlling the movements of or taking part in a gathering in a public place in the knowledge that such a gathering has been forbidden by the authorities); and
• -sections 197(4) and 364 of the Penal Code (paralysing the public service, stopping and disturbing public services).

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Justice has been informed about the Committee’s request and the Government will provide the relevant information as soon as possible.

The Committee recalls, with reference to paragraph 302 of its 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, that Article 1(a) of the Convention prohibits the use of compulsory labour “as a means of political coercion or education, or as a punishment for holding or expressing political views or views ideologically opposed to the established political, social or economic system”. Therefore, the range of activities which must be protected from punishment involving compulsory labour under this provision comprise the freedom to express political or ideological views, as well as various other generally recognized rights, such as the right of association and of assembly, through which citizens seek to secure the dissemination and acceptance of their views and which may also be affected by measures of political coercion.

The Committee notes that in October 2015 in his report the UN Secretary-General indicated that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) again received an increasing number of reports of demonstrators and journalists being harassed or assaulted by unidentified persons. UNAMI also received reports of journalists being harassed by security forces or persons associated with them during public demonstrations against corruption and poor public services. The Secretary-General also urged the Government to do its utmost to ensure that the right of citizens to freedom of expression and assembly is fully respected and protected (Security Council S/2015/819, paragraphs 50 and 74). In light of the above considerations, the Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure that no prison sentences involving compulsory labour are imposed on persons who, without having recourse to violence, express political opinions or views opposed to the established political, social or economic system. The Committee also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to bring its legislation into conformity with the Convention.