Iraqi students still missing, presumed to have fled
Three members of the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) held during the summer of 2011 at VCU were reported missing on July 30.
Mason Brown
Staff Writer
Possible threats against exchange students may have led to the disappearance of VCU exchange students during the summer.
Three members of the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) held during the summer of 2011 at VCU were reported missing on July 30, days before they were scheduled to return to Iraq. As of now there is no update on the location of the students, according to Family Health International, the parent program of IYLEP.
Investigation has lead VCU police to believe that no foul play was involved and that the students are safe, though their exact whereabouts are unknown.
During the 2010 session of IYLEP, a member received threats upon returning home to Iraq, according to Jeff South, associate professor in the School of Mass Communications at VCU as well an academic advisor and instructor for IYLEP.
South said that some believe that the students may have fled to family members in the U.S. for political asylum.
“Last year’s group had some students return to Iraq and were threatened. Some people had found out about the students going to the U.S. and saw them as sell-outs,” South said. “One student received a bullet in an envelope, which was clearly very threatening.”
The 22 remaining students from the program are back in Iraq.
The IYLEP aims to promote future leaders and free speech as well as the use of social media in Iraq. The program is viewed as successful by both the instructors and the students and some students maintain contact with instructors including South.
It is unknown if the program will enter its fourth year this summer.
Due to confidentiality concerns, students’ names cannot be provided.
Photos courtesy of Jeff South
