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ONE of
fallen dictator Saddam Hussein's self-confessed
informers is sleeping rough in Wales after being
refused asylum in Britain.
Terrified Iraqi Dilshad Rashad Ali has fled his
terraced house in Bradford Street, Grangetown,
Cardiff.
He says his life is in danger if he returns to Iraq
because his father is a torturer and his family is
"despised".
The 29-year-old Kurd - also known as Olshad Rashad
Ali - smuggled himself into Britain in the back of a
lorry in August 2003, after Saddam's fall. Mr Ali
sold his mother's gold jewellery to fund the trip
and was arrested by police on arriving in the UK.
He later secured free emergency Home Office
accommodation in Cardiff while his claim for asylum
status was processed.
That has now been refused, so he has been forced to
leave the government paid-for house in Grangetown
while he awaits deportation.
In the interim, Mr Ali - who is now homeless - has
applied for emergency Government accommodation and
food vouchers.
Tony Blair has yet to decide when Iraqis due for
deportation are to be sent back home. It is believed
he is waiting for the situation in Iraq to
stabilise.
Supporters of Mr Ali told Wales on Sunday if he
fails to get new housing and food vouchers, he may
be forced to go on the run.
Mr Ali claimed asylum over fears he would be killed
if he returned to Iraq. He says his father, Rashad,
was a member of Saddam's Ba'ath party and a 1st
Lieutenant in the Iraqi Security Forces.
He claims his father - who was murdered in a 2003
revenge attack - arrested and tortured people who
deserted the army and opposed Saddam.
Mr Ali also claimed in his asylum application that
some of those prisoners were mutilated or executed.
Mr Ali's story came to light this week after Wales
on Sunday was passed confidential Home Office papers
by shocked neighbours which were left scattered
outside his former home. The papers tell how Mr Ali
aided his father as an "informer" at a military
checkpoint under Saddam, revealing details on Arabs
and Kurds who were opposed to the Iraqi leader.
Mr Ali, who fled Grangetown three weeks ago, says
his family is "despised and blacklisted" in Iraq.
Last night, the Home Office said Mr Ali would be
deported if found and said every effort is being
made to find him.
Mr Ali was refused asylum as the Home Office does
not believe his life would be at risk on returning
to Iraq. The government is not 100 per cent
confident his father was one of Saddam's senior
officers. But this is disputed by Mr Ali, who says
his father is well known in Iraq for the crimes he
committed under Saddam.
Last night, a former lover told of her fears for her
ex-boyfriend.
The Pentwyn woman, who met him on a night out in
Cardiff after he arrived in Britain, split with him
five months ago, saying she could not cope with the
mental anguish he continues to suffer.
"He is a lovely person and his life would be in
danger if he ever returned to Iraq," she said.
"He feels guilty for what he did in Iraq but that is
what life was like under Saddam. If he goes back to
Iraq he is a sitting target."
The Welsh Refugee Council has expressed concern for
failed asylum seekers, saying "Iraqi refugees are in
limbo" as they wait to be deported.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk
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