The international trade union movement and civil society organisations have deep concerns about the escalating sectarian violence in Iraq.

The NASUWT, the UK’s largest teachers’ union, has received regular factual updates from its sister unions, the Iraqi Teachers’ Union (ITU) and the Kurdistan Teachers’ Union (KTU), who are seeking solidarity support from the international community.

Al Qaeda (aka ISIS or DAASH) has gained control of Iraq’s second largest province, Nineveh, and its capital Mosul, large parts of Salah ad-Din, Diyala and Al Nabar provinces. Baghdad is also surrounded by ISIS.

Additionally, ISIS has recently taken control of border areas and crossing points with Syria, part of Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

ISIS have claimed that they have established a borderless Islamic state, based on a Caliphate model established originally in 632CE, staking claim on Iraq, Syria, Kuwait and beyond.

In the last month it has been reported that Saudi Arabia has moved over 30,000 of its troops along the Iraqi border. There are also signs that Jordan has increased border security in order to counter any possible incursions into their territory.