What about the release of the hostages and detainees in IRAQ?

Since the news of the amnesty decree on 19th October 2002 in relation to the release of prisoners in Iraq, there has been no news about the release of the Iraqi hostages, who have been detained since April 1980.

President Saddam Hussain of Iraq directly ordered the detention of these Iraqi hostages by accusing them of being of Iranian origin whilst forcibly deporting the remainder of their entire families to Iran, after the confiscation of all of their property and their Iraqi identity documents and passports.

The detention and deportation of these hostages began on the 4th April 1980 - six months before Saddam has declared war on Iran. The families and relatives of these hostages are monitoring the news of the prisoners already released from a few of the many prisons in Iraq but until now they have neither heard from, or have any proof on the release of any of their sons, daughters and relatives.

Therefore this Committee demands that the Iraqi President Saddam and his Government clarify this Amnesty Decree and specifically state if it covers and includes the release of these detained IRAQI HOSTAGES?

At the same time we repeat our demand that President Saddam officially announce and order the release of our hostages and to compensate them and their families, whilst also declaring the fate of the hostages who have disappeared!

Dr. Kamal Ketuly,
FOR THE COMMITTEE OF THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES AND DETAINEES IN IRAQ
E-mail: iraqi_hostages@hotmail.com