Egypt: Information on the rights and status of Egyptians in Iraq in the period 1988 to 1990
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | EGY16869.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Egypt: Information on the rights and status of Egyptians in Iraq in the period 1988 to 1990, 1 March 1994, EGY16869.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae66c.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to an Independent article, in the 1980s Iraq expanded its labour force by "importing" about 1.5 million Egyptians and 300,000 Sudanese (14 Aug. 1990). These guest workers were able to enter Iraq "without visas or work permits" (ibid.).
The four attached articles provide information on the ill-treatment of Egyptian workers in Iraq prior to the Persian Gulf War of 1990. According to these articles, the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988 initiated a period of hostility towards Egyptian workers since the demobilized Iraqi soldiers viewed them as competitors in the labour market. The articles refer to the return to Egypt of thousands of Egyptians following the end of the Iran-Iraq War because of the alleged brutality, including murder, of an unspecified number of Egyptians, by Iraqi employers and unemployed Iraqis. These articles also refer to an Iraqi government decision to reduce the level of permitted remittances for Egyptians workers, which created financial problems for these workers.
Referring to the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait in late 1990, Keesing's Record of World Events reports the flight of a large number of Egyptians from Kuwait and Iraq (Aug. 1990). Another Keesing's report attributes a limited domestic opposition to Egypt's membership in the anti-Iraq allied forces largely to "reports of the mistreatment of Egyptian workers in Iraq, 500.000 of whom returned home" (Feb. 1991, 38061).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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
The Independent [London]. 14 August 1990. Patrick Cockburn. "How Iraq Could Beat a Blockade; Sustained Austerity may Enable Saddam to Survive the West's Economic Embargo, Writes Patrick Cockburn." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1991. Vol. 37, No. 2 (Supplement). "1990 Overview."
. August 1990. Vol. 36, No 7-8. "Egypt."
Attachments
Financial Times [London]. 17 November 1989. Tony Walker. "Returning Egyptians Tell of Iraqi 'Brutality'." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 14 August 1990. Patrick Cockburn. "How Iraq Could Beat a Blockade; Sustained Austerity may Enable Saddam to Survive the West's Economic Embargo, Writes Patrick Cockburn." (NEXIS)
Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. February 1991. Vol. 37, No. 2 (Supplement). "1990 Overview," p. 38061.
. August 1990. Vol. 36, No 7-8. "Egypt," p. 37636.
Reuters. 23 November 1989. BC Cycle. Ashraf Fouad. "Some Egyptians Say It's a Dog's Life in Iraq." (NEXIS)
. 19 November 1989. BC Cycle. Ashraf Fouad. "Egyptians in Iraq Criticize Cairo over Violence." (NEXIS)
. 15 November 1989. AM Cycle. Sara el-Gammal. "Egyptians Flood Home from Iraq with Tales of Abuse, Murder." (NEXIS)
