Iraq: State-Civil Society Relations

The Iraqi interim constitution of 1990 guarantees freedoms of expression, assembly, and religion. In 1991, the Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) legally authorized the creation of other political parties in Iraq in addition to the ruling Ba’th Party.

The General Federation of Trade Unions in Iraq (GFTU), created by the Trade Union Organization Law of 1987, the Iraqi Journalists’ Union, the Union of Teachers, the Union of Palestinian Workers in Iraq, the General Federation of Peasant Societies, and the Iraqi Federation of Industries are the important umbrella groups in the country.

The Revolutionary Command Council Decree Number 840 and the Press Act of 1968 regulate the activities of the media. The Ministry of Culture and Information periodically holds meetings at which general guidelines for the press are provided. Privately owned daily newspapers do not operate since 1967.

In addition to the State TV, there is Shebab, or Youth TV, and the Voice of Youth radio. The Republic of Iraq Radio and the Mother of All Battles Radio are the main radio stations.

Iraq launched an external satellite TV service in 1998, after a ban on Iraqi access to TV satellites was lifted. Satellite TV can be received with a permit.

Iraq eased up in 1999 on prosecuting citizens who left the country illegally, in an effort to encourage their return. In 2000, the Labor Act No. 71 for 1987 was revised to align its provisions with the terms of Arab and international labor agreements approved by Iraq. The law authorizes the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs to set up a committee to fix the minimum wages, provided that they are reviewed annually. The law protects the employees against violations of certain rights such as the right to an annual leave and against increasing their working hours by more than 300 hours a year. In October 2002, President Saddam Hussein granted a pardon to all Iraqis who left the country illegally and asked them to return. He also released all prisoners from Iraqi prisons.

For more information, please see Iraq - Civil Society weblinks