According to Iraqi TV, "some 212 Iraqi POWs released by Iran under the supervision of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) arrived at the Mundhiriyah border complex in Diyala Governorate [on 16 December 1998]" (16 Dec. 1998). AP indicated that in December 1998 "Iran released 196 Iraqi and 16 non-Iraqi soldiers captured during the war" (16 Mar. 1999). AP added that "many Egyptians and Palestinians living in Iraq voluntarily fought for Iraq during the war" (ibid.). On 17 December 1998, Xinhua reported that "Iran released 375 Iraqi prisoners of Wars (POWs) captured during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, bringing the number of released Iraqi POWs to 55,150".

No reports on the treatment of these POWs upon their return to Iraq could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Associated Press (AP). 16 March 1999. Leon Barkho. "Iran Swaps Some 450 POWs for About 50 Iranians." (NEXIS)

Iraqi TV [Baghdad, in Arabic]. 16 December 1998. "Iran Hands Over 212 Iraqi POWs." (BBC Summary 18 Dec. 1998/NEXIS)

Xinhua News Agency. 17 December 1998. "Iran Releases 375 Iraqi POWs." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Middle East International. 1995-2000

MERIP Report. 1995-2000

Washington Review on Middle East Affairs. 1998-2000

International Journal of Middle Eastern Studies. 1994-2000

International Committe of the Red Cross. http://www.icrc.org/icrceng.nsf/CountryDetails?Readform&Country=Iraq

Jane's Intelligence Review. 1995-2000

Journal of Arab Affairs. 1994-2000.

MERIA Journal. 1994-2000. http://www.biu.ac.il/SOC/besa/meria/journal/previousj.html

The Middle East Journal. 1994-2000

Middle East Review. 1993/94-1998

Monde Arabe Maghreb-Macrek. 1994-2000

LEXIS-NEXIS

World News Connections (WNC)