For many Iraqis, the 1980’s was a time of great social struggle against the regime in Iraq but what many did not know was that some of the people who claimed to be allies, were infact providing information to Saddams regime, which ultimately cost the lives of thirteen Iraqi trade unionists.

In early 1980, the then leading British Trotskyist organisation, the Workers Revolutionary Party sent a delegation of British and American members over to Iraq, on the invitation and expense of president Saddam Hussain.

During the trip, leading party members met with officials from the Ba’ath Party to discuss a greater cooperation between the two organizations because many of the Trotskyist groups saw the regime in Iraq as being progressive and representing Arab Socialism.

Whilst enjoying their time in Iraq’s capitol, many people across the globe knew either little or had no information, that during this period the Iraqi regime was killing members of Iraqs’ democratic movement.

Letters that were sent to the then General Secretary of the Worker’s Revolutionary Party, Gerry Heally, show that some members expressed concern over the relationship that was being developed with Saddam Hussain.

Concern was first raised after a delegation from Iraq’s democratic trade union movement who visted the UK on a speaking tour, which exposed to British people the horrors of life under Saddams regime. The delegation had been organized by British Trade Unionists, who were involved with the main Iraqi opposition group of the day the Campaign Against Repression and for Democratic Rights in Iraq.

On the return to their country, the Iraqi Trade Unionists had found that their details had been handed over to the regime which resulted in their public executions. In the letters to Heally, members accuse the General Secretary of being the person who signed their death warrants.

The reason why this conclusion was drawn, was because some members of the WRP had found that firstly, substantial amounts of money had been deposited in the Party’s bank account by the Baghdad government. Secondly, members of the Totskyist organization had been involved with the organization and delegation which had been reported back to the Party’s leadership. This included infomation about the movements and where abouts of the Iraqi Trade Unionists.

Speaking to one active member of the Iraqi opposition of that time, she informed me that information about activists was getting back to the Iraqi Authorities which led to the harassment and murders of members families back in Iraq.

The letters to Gerry Heally, still remain in storage around the United Kingdom, they are being kept away from public attention because many fear that this would lead to a public out cry against many people, whom still remain active and prominent in the Left-wing movement to this day.