IRAQI FOOTBALL TEAM

Early day motion 306, tabled 25 July 1997 by Tim Loughton (Conservative). Signed by 15 members.

That this House expresses its concern at an article which appeared in the Sunday Times on 20th July in which it was reported that, after a recent 2-1 loss to Kazakhstan, the Iraqi football team, on the orders of Saddam Hussein's son Uday, were taken to Radwaniyah military base, where they were caned on the soles of their feet, beaten on their backs and threatened with indefinite imprisonment; and calls on Her Majesty's Government to put pressure on FIFA, the world governing body of football, to ensure that Iraq is immediately expelled from international competition until these human rights abuses are brought to an end and those responsible punished.

Signatures by party: Conservative 11, Labour 3, Liberal Democrat 1.