EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: MDE 14/14/90

Distr: UA/SC

UA 344/90 ARBITRARY ARREST/FEAR OF TORTURE 29 August 1990

IRAQ/KUWAIT :HAIDAR ASHKANANI, aged 24

MUHAMMAD KADHIM, aged 26

'ALI KADHIM, aged 22

'ABD AL-MUHSIN KADHIM, aged 18

JAWAD AL-QALLAF, aged 19

MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM, aged 18

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Amnesty International has just received information that six Kuwaiti nationals were arrested by Iraqi forces on 3 August and taken to Baghdad, where they are believed to be currently detained. They are among the hundreds of people reported to have been arrested by Iraqi forces since the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August. The six were arrested after taking part in a peaceful demonstration against the invasion of Kuwait in the Sulaibikhat district of Kuwait City. The detainees are all Shi'a Muslims.

According to reports received by Amnesty International, the relatives of the six detainees enquired about them with the Iraqi forces stationed in Sulaibikhat police station. They were apparently told that the detainees had been taken to Baghdad and that all further enquiries about them should be lodged with the authorities there.

The fate of the six detainees has remained unknown since their transfer to Baghdad. Amnesty International's information indicates that they were arrested solely for peacefully demonstrating against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and as such regards them as possible prisoners of conscience who should be immediately and unconditionally released.

Since 2 August, several peaceful demonstrations have taken place in Kuwait in protest of Iraq's invasion. At least three unarmed civilians were reported to have been killed and twenty others wounded.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telegrams/telexes/express and airmail letters:

- expressing concern about the arrest of the six Kuwaiti detainees and urging that if they have been detained solely for peacefully taking part in a demonstration they should be immediately and unconditionally released as prisoners of conscience;

- requesting details of the place of detention of the detainees and urging that they be allowed family visits;

- seeking assurances about the physical safety of the detainees and urging that they be treated humanely and are not subjected to torture or other ill-treatment;

- requesting details regarding the legal basis for their arrest and continued detention.

APPEALS TO:

President Saddam Hussain

President of the Republic of Iraq

Presidential Palace

Karadat Mariam

Baghdad, Iraq

Telegrams: President Hussain, Baghdad, Iraq

Telexes: 212299 ALQASR IK

Samir Muhammad 'Abd al-Wahab

Minister of the Interior

Ministry of the Interior

Baghdad, Iraq

Telegrams: Interior Minister, Baghdad, Iraq

Telexes: 21218 INTERIOR IK

Tariq 'Aziz

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Baghdad, Iraq

Telegrams: Foreign Minister, Baghdad, Iraq

Telexes: 212201 MIN FO A IK

212213 AKHARIJA IK

COPIES TO: Diplomatic representatives of Iraq in your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 10 October 1990.