Iraq: The activities and circumstances of the opposition party "al-Da'wah" (al-Daawa, al-Da'wah al-Islamiyah, Islamic Da'wah, Dawa) (1995-May 1998)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 May 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ29415.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: The activities and circumstances of the opposition party "al-Da'wah" (al-Daawa, al-Da'wah al-Islamiyah, Islamic Da'wah, Dawa) (1995-May 1998), 1 May 1998, IRQ29415.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac1230.html [accessed 30 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. |
The al-Da'wah al-Islamiyah (Islamic Call) Party, a Shiite group founded in the 1960s and based in Damascus, is one of the oldest of the Iraqi opposition groups (Political Handbook of the World: 1997 1997, 397; AFP 16 Dec. 1996, 9 Jan. 1997; The Independent 23 Jan. 1997; Reuters 16 Aug. 1995). Al-Da'wah was part of the opposition coalition, the Iraqi National Congress (INC), but complained about alleged under-representation of Shiites within the INC soon after the INC was established in 1992 (Le Monde 16 Feb. 1998). Al-Da'wah subsequently split from the INC in 1995, reportedly because of dissatisfaction with the leadership of Ahmed Chalabi (The Guardian 10 Mar. 1997).
On 26 July 1996 a BBC Summary of World Broadcasts reported that broadcasts in support of the "Islamic Da'wah Party" were being transmitted on medium-wave from Iran. The station, called "Radio of Jihad, Voice of the Islamic Movement in Iraq," was first monitored by the BBC in February 1996. The BBC stated that "Radio of Jihad" apparently shared broadcasting facilities with the Voice of Rebellious Iraq, which also broadcast from Iran and maintained postal addresses in Damascus, Tehran, and the Iranian city of Qom.
On 12 December 1996 Saddam Hussein's oldest son, Uday, came under fire from unidentified gunmen as he was driving his car in Baghdad (AFP 16 Dec. 1996). Uday and several passers-by were injured in the attack. Al-Da'wa claimed responsibility for the attack in a 14 December 1996 statement to AFP in Beirut, but "former Iraqi intelligence chief Wafiq Samarrai said he suspected the United Democratic Front of ruling Baath Party dissidents" (ibid.). The Independent reported on 23 January 1997 that the assassination attempt was headed by former Iraqi army officer Ra'ad al-Hazaa, who was seeking revenge for the 1990 execution of his uncle, General Omar al-Hazaa. Although al-Da'wah claimed responsibility, in reality its involvement was secondary (ibid.). The government of Iraq, believing that those involved in the assassination attempt had fled to Iran, officially requested that the Iranian government return the suspects to Iraq, and lodged a diplomatic protest against Iran's alleged support of al-Da'wah (ibid.; AFP 9 Jan. 1997).
The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Middle East and African Affairs, Mohammad Sadr, met with representatives of the Iraqi opposition in Damascus on 10 September 1997 (10 Sept. 1997). Among the Iraqi opposition representatives Sadr met was Jawad (Javad) al-Maliki (Maleki) of al-Da'wa ("Da'ava"). Jawad al-Maliki stated in a 19 February 1998 interview with the London Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat that al-Da'wa is opposed to the partition of Iraq, either "on sectarian or racial grounds or for any other reason." Al-Maliki, who lives in Damascus, is described as "a member of the Islamic Da'wah Party's Political Bureau (ibid.).
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
Agence France Presse (AFP). 9 January 1997. Patrick Rahir. "Iraq Denounces Wave of Alleged Plots." (NEXIS)
_____. 16 December 1996. "Several People Wounded in Iraq Attack on Saddam's Son." (NEXIS)
Al-Hayat [London]. 19 February 1998. "Opposition Da'wah Party Rejects Partition." (BBC Summary 21 Feb. 1998/NEXIS)
BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 26 July 1996. "Introduction." (NEXIS)
The Guardian [London]. 10 March 1997. Kathy Evans. "Anti-Saddam Alliance Set to Break Up." (NEXIS)
The Independent [London]. 23 January 1997. Patrick Cockburn. "Saddam's Son Was Shot to Avenge Dead Iraqi General." (NEXIS)
Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA). 10 September 1997. "Iran: Deputy Iranian Minister, Iraqi Opposition Meet in Damascus." (FBIS-NES-97-253 10 Sept. 1997/WNC)
Le Monde [Paris]. 16 February 1998. Naim Mouna. "L'opposition irakienne est minée par ses disparités, ses conflits et ses alliances." (NEXIS)
Political Handbook of the World: 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.
Reuters. 16 August 1995. BC Cycle. Nadim Ladki. "Iraqi Defections Show Opposition as Split as Ever." (NEXIS)
