In the early months of 1980, Iraqi students are studying in cities all over the Soviet Union. However, Ba'athist students attempt to provoke a mass brawl with the communist students, especially in the city of Tashkent. The Iraqi government then tries to place the blame entirely on the communist Iraqi students, and evidence suggests that the Iraqi government may have been guiding the Ba'athist students.

In November of 1979, the Collegiate of the International Preparatory Institute in Budapest in the People's Republic of Hungary reports fighting between to Iraqi students. This trend of violence with Ba'athist Iraqi students spread to the GDR and Poland as well, forcing the nations to take drastic measures. In Hungary, the Ministry of Education even instructs all universities and colleges in Budapest to not provide any rooms for events and assemblies to foreign students.

In December 1979, the Bulgarian Intelligence Service reports to Berlin on a tense series of situations regarding Arab students studying in Sofia. After several fights break out between Ba'athist and communist students, resulting in many severe injuries, the nation of Iraq decides to recall a large number of its students studying in Bulgaria.

Summary of a meeting with an informant from the Arab Socialist Baath Party (ASBP) about conflicts between Iraqi communists and Baath party members in East Germany and Bulgaria. The Baathists feel Bulgarian authorities are siding unfairly with the Iraq Communist Party and are planning sanctions in response.

Unofficial Collaborator “Klaus” reports on Iraqi laws punishing treason and espionage, including Iraqis living abroad who are in contact with a foreign intelligence service, and foreigners in Iraq who maintain contacts to a foreign power. A second law covers members of the army or police who had contacts with hostile intelligence services or contact with any party or political group than the Baath Party.

Since contacting the GDR in the late sixties and beginning to work with them, changes have occurred within Iraq. Communists, who were originally relatively free to their beliefs at the start of the new regime, are facing persecution in the face of the Baathist leadership. Also, this communist-Baathist conflict has began to spread to Iraqis in East Germany.