The properties of linear codes over GF <tex xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">(q)</tex> that provide unequal error protection (UEP) of information digits are discussed. A design is proposed for optimal binary systematic linear UEP codes. Broad classes of iterative and concatenated UEP codes are constructed. Majority decoding algorithms for linear iterative UEP codes are described.