The Public Service Workers' Union, an IFTU affiliate, has issued a statement condemning terrorist attacks against hairdressers.
A wave of terrorist attacks carried out against workers in beauty saloons in Baghdad and across many other cities in the middle and south of Iraq has resulted in the brutal murders of many workers in this field who are struggling in the most difficult circumstance to earn a living so as to feed their families and children. These innocent workers have been subjected to the most barbaric and violent murders at the hands of backward terrorists who have no regards to human rights and who are killing them because they claim hairdressing is an 'un-Islamic' practice which must be stopped.
These extremists who are killing hairdressers without mercy are murdering them in the same way they assassinated prominent Iraqi patriots such as engineers, businessmen and doctors and bombed worship places such as churches and mosques.
These barbarians are killing in the name of Islam, but Islam is a peaceful religion and forbids such act of violence.
The Public Service Workers Union strongly condemns these vile acts and calls upon the new transitional government to take urgent steps to protect the lives of innocent hairdressers who are doing a public service to Iraqis and to bring those criminals and terrorists who have killed and terrorized others to justice so that they can receive their just punishment.
May God bless the souls of our murdered brothers and may they rest in heaven.
Condolences and deepest sympathy are with the bereaved families
Glory to the martyrs of Iraqi democracy.
The Public Service Workers Union
The Executive Committee
Baghdad, 22 May 2005