a-4488 (ACC-IRQ-4488)

In response to your above request we may provide you with the following information:

• KurdishMedia.com: Tourism in Iraq: The Paris of the Middle East will rise from the ashes, 6 December 2003 (accessed 09 June 2005)
  http://www.kurdmedia.com/reports.asp?id=1746

  But wars, mines, looting, crime and chaos notwithstanding, a steady stream of pilgrims from Iran have been making their way to Iraq’s holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala. Pilgrims from the Muslim world have always been the mainstay of Iraq’s tourist industry. At the Madrid donors’ conference in October the Iranian Foreign Minister, Kamal Kharrazi did not need to offer aid. Iraq would be assured of at least 100,000 tourists every month and they would spend at least $500m annually, Kharrazi predicted confidently. In the holy cities Iranian currency is accepted by shopkeepers and hoteliers. [...]

  During the1980 s the Baathist regime of Saddam Hussein went to great lengths to encourage visitors. But the promotion of Iraq was hindered by its increasing repression and local people were discouraged from talking to foreigners. Iraq’s State Organisation for Tourism began to spend lavishly on hotels such as the Mansour Meila, the Meridian and the Sheraton. But the eight year Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) discouraged visitors as did difficulties in obtaining visas.

  The period between the end of the Iran -Iraq War (1988) and the start of the second Gulf war (1992) was not an auspicious time for the development of tourism. Saddam’s regime promised liberalisation and political reforms which amounted to little more than empty words. Iraqi cultural centres in Europe held exhibitions and made some attempt to promote the country. The monthly cultural magazine Ur proved to be extremely informative rather than propagandistic.

  After the second Gulf war and the imposition of sanctions, the tourist industry, which could be described more accurately a non- industry, passed through one of its bleakest periods. Paranoia about foreign spies made it virtually impossible for visitors to talk to the locals and, apart from the Shia pilgrims, hardly anyone went to Iraq.

• USDOS - US Department of State:  International Religious Freedom Report 2003 - Iraq, 18 December 2003
  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24452.htm (accessed 09 June 2005)

  From 1991 to April 2003, regime security forces were encamped in the shrine to Imam Ali in Najaf, one of Shi’a Islam’s holiest sites, and at the city’s Shi’a theological schools. The shrine was closed for "repairs" for approximately 2 years after the 1991 uprising. The adjoining al-Khathra mosque, which also was closed in 1994, also remained closed. The closure coincided with the death of Ayatollah Sayed Mohammed Taqi al-Khoei, who was killed in what observers believe was a staged car accident; before his death, Ayatollah al-Khoei led prayers in the al-Khathra mosque.[4]

  The Saddam Hussein regime consistently politicized and interfered with religious pilgrimages, both of Iraqi Muslims who wished to make the Hajj to Mecca and Medina and of Iraqi and non-Iraqi Muslim pilgrims who traveled to holy sites within the country.

  Shi’a pilgrims from the country and around the world commemorate the death of the Imam Hussein in Karbala twice a year. In past years, the former regime denied visas to many foreign pilgrims for the Ashura, and severely limited or denied observance of the pilgrimage--for several decades the regime interfered with the ritual walking pilgrimage to Karbala to mark the end of the 40-day mourning period. In 2000, the Government issued orders prohibiting the walking pilgrimage to Karbala and reportedly deployed more than 15,000 Republican Guard troops armed with light weapons and in civilian clothes on the main roads leading into both cities to enforce the prohibition. Travelers later reported that security troops opened fire on pilgrims who attempted the walk from Najaf to Karbala as part of the 40th day ritual. Shi’a expatriates reported that groups as small as 10 to 20 pilgrims attempting to make their way into the city at other times were arrested.[5]

• USDOS - US Department of State:  International Religious Freedom Report 2002 - Iraq, 7 October 2002
  http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2002/13996.htm (accessed 09 June 2005)

  Twice each year--on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Muharram and 40 days later in the month of Safar--Shi’a pilgrims from throughout the country and around the world seek to commemorate the death of the Imam Hussein in the city of Karbala. In past years, the Government has denied visas to many foreign pilgrims hoping to come for the Ashura. For example, in 1999 the Government reportedly charged foreign Shi’a pilgrims $900 for bus passage and food from Damascus to Karbala, a trip that normally would cost about $150.

• USDOS - US Department of State:  International Religious Freedom Report 1999 - Iraq, 9 September 1999
  http://www.state.gov/www/global/human_rights/irf/irf_rpt/1999/irf_iraq99.html (accessed 09 June 2005)

  In past years, the Government has denied visas to many foreign pilgrims for the Ashura. In 1999 it seemed intent on profiteering from them. Shi’a pilgrims reported being charged $900 for bus passage and food from Damascus to Karbala, a trip that would normally cost about $150. The Government had reportedly tacked on a $600 surcharge for foreign pilgrims in addition to the $100 visa fee and a requirement to exchange $50 into Iraqi dinars.

  Among the sources consulted by ACCORD no information could be found on the subject of differences between Sunni or Shia names.

  This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the ACCORD 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.