Organized by the Iraqi Communist Party
Under red banners, workers and activists rally in Basra for labor rights
BASRA — The Iraqi Communist Party organized a march in Basra on Thursday to mark International Workers’ Day, drawing workers, union leaders, and activists who called for broader political responsibility in defending labor rights.
The demonstration began at the statue of poet Badr Shakir Al-Sayyab on the corniche and continued toward Umm Al-Broom Square in central Al-Ashar. Marchers waved red flags, beat drums and danced in celebration of the global labor holiday.
Abdul-Sada Al-Basri, a representative of the Communist Party, said the responsibility to advocate for workers extends beyond one political group.
“The problem that many don’t understand is that it’s not only the duty of the Communist Party to demand workers’ rights,” he told 964media.
“The Communist Party is a labor-based party, but all parties should advocate for workers’ rights just as they do for democracy and community rights.”
Salim Mohammed, head of the Basra Federation of Labor Unions, said the Communist Party’s philosophy links labor rights to social well-being.
“In the Communist Party’s global philosophy, achieving well-being for the working class means achieving dignity and a decent life for the whole society,” he said.
Karim Juhi, head of the Petrochemical Workers’ Union, emphasized that May 1 is globally recognized.
“May 1 is a holiday for all workers worldwide,” he said. “In every country, there is attention to the working class and their legitimate rights in return for the duties they perform.”
Participants described the march as a symbolic act — one meant to underscore the continued relevance of labor rights in Iraq and around the world.
Both the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government declared Thursday, May 1, an official public holiday in observance of International Workers’ Day.
