Iraq: Iraqi army unit called Mouaskar Rachid in Zafarania
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 November 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ33202.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: Iraqi army unit called Mouaskar Rachid in Zafarania, 23 November 1999, IRQ33202.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad4760.html [accessed 17 September 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 two sources specializing on Iraq, Mouaskar Rachid (literally "Camp Rachid") is the name of an army base located in the Bagdad suburb of Zafarania (22 Nov. 1999; 23 Nov. 1999). Both sources added that Mouaskar Rachid is not an army unit, but one of the oldest and biggest army bases in Iraq. The base also contains an air base and an army hospital.
One of the sources, a representative of the Iraqi National Congress (INC) in London, stated that there is an underground prison within the premises of Mouaskar Rachid which is under the control of Qusai Hussein, Saddam's second son (23 Nov. 1999). The prisoners are mainly from the Iraqi army. The Research Directorate could not find corroborating information on whether there is an underground prison under Mouaskar Rachid within the time constraint of this Response.
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.
Iraqi National Congress (INC), London, England. 23 November 1999. Telephone interview with representative. The INC is the main Iraqi opposition group abroad and is funded in part by the United States.
Specialist on Iraq, the Royal United Institute for Defence Studies (UIDS), London, England. 22 November 1999. Telephone interview. The UIDS is an institute founded in 1831 by the Duke of Wellington which conducts research in the field of defence and international security.