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.
Reasons for the Deportation
- 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.
Hostage Taking
- 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.