IRAQI FOOTBALLERS

Early day motion 1206, tabled 13 May 2003 by David Winnick (Labour). Signed by 52 members.

That this House recalls that on 4th December last year, the Prime Minister was challenged by an honourable Member over the mention in the document on human rights in Iraq that footballers there had been caned on the sole of their feet for failing to qualify in a World Cup football match; but notes, however, that the Guardian's report on 19th April after the liberation of Iraq carried interviews with footballers who confirmed that the punishment for losing important matches meant ritual humiliation, imprisonment, savage beatings and tortures with electric cable.

Signatures by party: Labour 43, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 2, UUP 2.