An Iraqi chemist has managed to remain in Britain as a refugee despite attempts by the Home Office to deport him due to his involvement in the "killing" of tens of thousands during the rule of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi scientist, referred to as "ASA" by a British court, previously managed a laboratory at a chemical weapons factory under Saddam Hussein's regime, according to the British newspaper "Mirror."
He was granted permanent residency in the UK despite efforts by Home Secretary Priti Patel to have him removed. The chemical weapons expert has been living in Britain for over a decade, having escaped Saddam Hussein's "brutal" regime that killed 100,000 people using gas. The Iraqi scientist sought refugee status upon arrival with a work visa.
Home Secretary Priti Patel attempted to deport him, but he was allowed to remain after asserting that he faced execution in Iraq. His case was elevated to the High Court in the immigration and asylum division, which ruled in his favor in July. He told the newspaper: "Asylum exists to protect people from persecution by rogue governments."
The former officer fled to Jordan before arriving in Britain in 2010, coming with a visa after securing a position as a researcher at a university in North West England, as stated in court, and later applying for asylum. When the Home Office revoked it, he appealed the ruling. The decision came in his favor despite the court finding "serious reasons to consider him responsible for committing a crime against peace, a war crime, or a crime against humanity."
The scientist managed laboratories at the Al-Muthanna chemical weapons center near Samarra from 1981 to 1988. At that time, Iraq was engaged in a bombing campaign against Iran using weapons such as mustard gas and sarin. In 2003, when Saddam Hussein was captured and hanged, he was classified as a high-ranking figure in the ruling Ba'ath Party.
The court noted that he avoided punishment after providing information to U.S. forces, helping them "expose Saddam Hussein's weapons projects." It was deemed that he could not return to Iraq due to fears of imprisonment and torture based on his Sunni sect and "connection to the Ba'ath Party as an academic." He informed the court that he was "aware" of the existence of chemical weapons at Al-Muthanna but claimed he "did not contribute to the development of chemical weapons." He added that he was compelled to work with the regime because his family was threatened.
The newspaper reported that British officials are considering elevating his case to a higher court. In his testimony, the Iraqi scientist stated that "Saddam Hussein's chemical weapons program not only killed Kurds and Iranians but also provided the backbone for Al-Qaeda."
