May Day march in Baghdad Calls for Solidarity with Iraqi Workers

At the invitation of the Iraqi Communist Party and the General Federation of Iraq Trade Unions (GFITU), thousands of workers, students, young people and intellectuals, women and men, rallied in the early morning in central Baghdad to celebrate the 1st of May, International Workers’ Day. The march set off from Fateh Square, in front of the National Theatre, led by Comrade Raid Fahmi, the Secretary of the Central Committee, party cadres and union leaders, raising the Iraqi flag, red banners and dozens of slogans demanding the rights of Iraqi workers. On their way towards Kahramana Square, the marchers chanted slogans denouncing corruption, the sectarian and ethnic quota system, marginalization of the working class, and attempts to privatize the rest of the public sector. The march continued towards Andulus Square, where crowds gathered in the middle of the square, in a lively atmosphere with workers’ songs and popular music. Comrade Basma Kazem, member of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party, addressed the rally and delivered the party’s statement on May Day. She highlighted the history of struggle of the Iraqi working class over many decades until the present day, and the repression, persecution and marginalization it has suffered. The president of the General Federation of Iraq Trade Unions, Ali Rahim, saluted the struggle of the Iraqi working class and its determination to continue the fight for its rights. He stressed that any victory achieved by the workers will provide support for victories achieved by the Iraqi armed forces, volunteers of the popular mobilization units and the Peshmerga against terrorist Daesh. Rahim stressed that "the Iraqi working class, based on its rich experience, is aware that a prosperous democratic Iraq can only be built by combining the efforts of the people

and workers to consolidate the foundations of democracy, and build an independent democratic trade union movement that expresses the social and economic interests of workers". Solidarity with the Palestinian people The Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Baghdad, Ahmed Aqal, also addressed the rally. He expressed his thanks for the efforts of the Iraqi Communists in continuing the struggle, despite the terrorist threats that attempt to destabilize the security situation in Baghdad. Aqal referred to the heroic hunger strike by Palestinian detainees which is currently taking place in Israeli jails. May Day marches, rallies and events were also organized in other provinces and cities across Iraq, including Basra, Diwaniyya, Hillah, Samawa and Karbala. The Kurdistan Communist Party also organized a big march and rally in Erbil, Sulaimaniyya and other towns of Iraqi Kurdistan.