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Iraq: Whether there is an Iraqi political party or organization called the Nahda Party

The Research Directorate found reports of al-Nahda parties existing in a number of Muslim states, most readily, Tunisia (Political Parties of the World 2002, 467), Jordan (Jordan Times 24 May 2002) and Algeria (ArabicNews.com 27 Nov. 1998). Although neither Europa 2001 nor Political Parties of the World (2002) make mention of an Iraqi party of the same name, a number of other reports refer to an al-Nahda Party as extant in Iraq during the 1990s.

According to The Independent, al-Nahda, here spelled al-Nadha, was "formed by students in Baghdad in 1991" (25 Jan. 1997). The Iraqi National Congress (INC) described the group as the " Al Nadha (Revival) Movement ... a patriotic, democratic, non-sectarian organisation which has contact with other Iraqi opposition groups" (INC 29 May 1997). The American Prospect referred to al-Nahda in the context of its discussion of "Shiite rebel groups in southern Iraq that have attempted to attack the 'pillars' of Saddam's regime" (25 Mar. 2002).

al-Nahda was reportedly involved in the 1996 attempted assassination of Uday Hussein (son of Saddam Hussein), where The Independent reported that the group had "four men on call who made up the ambush team" for the attempt (25 Jan. 1997). The report also noted that the would-be assassins "fled into Iraq's western desert where they took refuge with an Arab tribe ... then fled to Jordan and then on to the United Arab Emirates" whereafter they travelled to Europe (ibid.). The INC also claimed that al-Nahda was " responsible for the attack on Saddam's son Uday in December 1996 which has left him in a wheelchair" (27 May 1997). However, Keesing's Record of World Events for 1996 makes no mention of al-Nahda's involvement; noting instead that "the banned Islamic al-Dawa Party and the hitherto unknown Mohammed Madhlum al Dulaimi group" claimed responsibility (Dec. 1996, 41425).

Eleven members of al-Nadha were reported as killed by Iraqi Special Security Services forces (Country Reports 1997; UNGA 15 Oct. 1997) on 2 February 1997 (INC 27 May 1997). In a press release concerning this event, the INC stated the following:

IBC has learned the names of the members of the Al Nadha (Revival) Movement who were killed in a gunbattle with the Iraqi Special Security Service on 2 February 1997.

...

IBC has learned that 11 Al Nadha members and 3 Special Security agents were killed in the four-hour-long gunbattle, which took place in the Algre'ath district of Baghdad.

The names of the dead members of Al Nadha are: Sabah, Abed Ali, Samir Wahab Mohammed, Jafar Hassan Bilal, Noman Mounzer, Kadija Ismail, Mazin Agha Hussein, Suroor Hussein, Saif Nouri Mohammed, Salah Qasim Awani, Ibtesam Ali Al Abadi, Raad Kamel (ibid.).

The Research Directorate was unable to find reports of al-Nahda activities in Iraq after 1997, or further information about the membership, organization and leaders of this group among sources consulted.

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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

The American Prospect. 25 March 2002. Vol. 13, No. 6. Frank Smyth. "Saddam's Real Opponents: What You Don't Know About the Iraqi Opposition." <http://www.prospect.org/print/V13/6/smyth-f.html> [Accessed 18 June 2002]

ArabicNews.com 27 November 1998. "Algerian al-Nahda Movement to Take Part in Presidential Elections." <http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/ Day/981127/ 1998112703.html> [Accessed 18 June 2002]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. <http://www.state.gov/www/global/ human_rights/1997_hrp_report/iraq.html> [Accessed 18 June 2002]

The Independent [London]. 25 January 1997. Patrick Cockburn. "Best Friend Led Assassins to Saddam's Son: Ambush Throws Sinister Light on Bloody Politics of Iraq's Elite." (NEXIS)

Iraqi National Congress (INC). 29 May 1997. Press Release. "List of Opposition Members Killed in Baghdad." <http://209.50.252.70/English/news/97/ ibc970529a.htm>[Accessed 18 June 2002]

Jordan Times [Amman, Internet version in English]. 24 May 2002. Alia Shukri Hamzeh. "Jordan: Al Nahda Party Pulls Out of Centerist Bloc." (FBIS-NES-2002-0524 24 May 2002/WNC)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. December 1996. Vol. 42, No. 12. "Attempted Assassination of Saddam's Son."

Political Parties of the World. 2002. 5th Edition. Edited by Alan J. Day. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group.

United Nations General Assembly. 15 October 1997. "Human Rights Questions: Human Rights Situations and Reports of Special Rapporteurs and Representatives. Situation of Human Rights in Iraq: Note by the Secretary-General" (A/52/476). <http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord1997/documentation /genassembly/a-52-476.htm> [Accessed 18 June 2002]

Additional Sources Consulted

Europa World Yearbook (1992-2001)

IRB Databases

NEXIS

Internet sites including:

Google

Iraqi National Congress

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

World News Connection

Topics: Political parties,