Summary

Deportations

• April 1980 - 1990 approximately one million Iraqi citizens were forcibly deported to Iran.
• The deportations commenced six months prior to the start of the Iraq/Iran war.
• The deportees were accused of being of Iranian origin.
• Their belongings and Iraqi citizenship documents were confiscated.

• Many of the deportees were wealthy and the ruling Baath Party wanted their wealth for its own supporters.
• Many of the deportees were not supporters of the Baath Party or not trusted by the Regime.
• Many of the younger deportees were well educated and the Baath Party feared their future influence.

• To silence protest members of each family of deportees were detained as hostages.
• Approximately one detainee for every 10 deportees.
• These hostages were mainly men 16-40.
• Many hostages were on National Service when arrested.
• The hostages were imprisoned in various prisons and transported between prisons.
• Abu Ghraeb and Qalat Al Salman were 2 of the main prisons where hostages were kept.
• At least 4 thousand hostages are still in detention in Iraq.
• The Committee is seeking information on the whereabouts and welfare of all the hostages and campaigning for their release.