Mubarak al-Duri
Encyclopedia
An Iraqi doctor, Mubarak al-Duri (مبارك الدوري) (also Mubarak Douri, Mubarak el Doory) ran an agricultural project owned by Osama bin Laden
from 1992–94, and is alleged to have procured weapons and equipment overseas.
where he was in contact with Wadi al-Hage, who also lived in the city. The pair were likely associated with the city's fledgling Maktab al-Khidamat.
in 1991, al-Duri shared an office with Al-Jihad member Abu Hassan el Masry. He was a personal friend of Syrian-American honey producer Mohammed Loay Bayazid
, who is believed to have recruited him.
al-Duri worked for the agricultural firm named Al-Thimar al-Mubaraka (Blessed Fruits) which exported corn and sunflower seeds, and employed 10,000 workers, and was in charge of their Al-Damazin Farms
project, which included 4,000 seasonal workers tending nearly a million acres (4,000 km²).
An agricultural engineer named Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub met with al-Duri, at the request of Bin Laden and became the farms' Deputy General Manager. On October 17, 1993, al-Duri wrote Mahjoub a reference letter
vouching for his work with the farms in al-Damazin from February 1992 until May 1993.
, probably in the late 1990s.
He was also in contact with Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub.
In 2005, Canadian judge Eleanor Dawson
released a ruling that suggested that al-Duri likely maintained contact with Essam Marzouk
while living in British Columbia.
overseen by the intelligence service. They were asked whether there was any possible connection between Saddam Hussein
and al-Qaeda
, and laughed stating that Bin Laden hated the dictator who he believed was a "Scotch-drinking, woman-chasing apostate.”
In 2002, the CIA sent Rolf Mowatt-Larssen to again interview al-Duri and Bayazid, to see if they couldn't be made to defect
, although both refused.
Osama bin Laden
Osama bin Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden was the founder of the militant Islamist organization Al-Qaeda, the jihadist organization responsible for the September 11 attacks on the United States and numerous other mass-casualty attacks against civilian and military targets...
from 1992–94, and is alleged to have procured weapons and equipment overseas.
Life in the United States
In the 1980s, he was living in Tucson, ArizonaTucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
where he was in contact with Wadi al-Hage, who also lived in the city. The pair were likely associated with the city's fledgling Maktab al-Khidamat.
Life in Sudan
While living in KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
in 1991, al-Duri shared an office with Al-Jihad member Abu Hassan el Masry. He was a personal friend of Syrian-American honey producer Mohammed Loay Bayazid
Mohammed Loay Bayazid
Born in Syria, Mohammed Loay Bayazid is an American citizen alleged to have been a founding member of al-Qaeda, although he has cooperated with American authorities and claims his role in the group has been over-stated....
, who is believed to have recruited him.
al-Duri worked for the agricultural firm named Al-Thimar al-Mubaraka (Blessed Fruits) which exported corn and sunflower seeds, and employed 10,000 workers, and was in charge of their Al-Damazin Farms
Al-Damazin Farms
The Al-Damazin Farms, about 300 miles south-east of Khartoum, Sudan, was an "enormous" farm owned and run by Osama bin Laden.Bin Laden had an arrangement with high officials in the Sudan government to build the farm. He received the land on which the farms were based in payment by the Sudanese...
project, which included 4,000 seasonal workers tending nearly a million acres (4,000 km²).
An agricultural engineer named Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub met with al-Duri, at the request of Bin Laden and became the farms' Deputy General Manager. On October 17, 1993, al-Duri wrote Mahjoub a reference letter
Reference letter
A reference letter or letter of reference is a letter in which the writer makes a general assessment of the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of a person, or confirms details about that individual’s situation or circumstances...
vouching for his work with the farms in al-Damazin from February 1992 until May 1993.
Life in Canada
He is reported to have lived in Richmond, British ColumbiaRichmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, probably in the late 1990s.
He was also in contact with Mohammad Zeki Mahjoub.
In 2005, Canadian judge Eleanor Dawson
Eleanor Dawson
Eleanor Dawson is a judge currently serving on the Federal Court of Appeals, and is a former judge on the Federal Court of Canada.-References:...
released a ruling that suggested that al-Duri likely maintained contact with Essam Marzouk
Essam Marzouk
An Egyptian resident of British Columbia, Essam Hafez Mohammed Marzouk arrived in Vancouver, Canada in 1993 as a refugee fleeing persecution in Pakistan...
while living in British Columbia.
Return to Sudan
In November 2001, al-Duri was contacted by Sudanese intelligence services who informed him that the FBI had sent Jack Cloonan and several other agents, to speak with himself and Mohamed Loay Bayazid. al-Duri and another Iraqi colleague agreed to meet with Cloonan in a safe houseSafe house
In the jargon of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, a safe house is a secure location, suitable for hiding witnesses, agents or other persons perceived as being in danger...
overseen by the intelligence service. They were asked whether there was any possible connection between Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
and al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
, and laughed stating that Bin Laden hated the dictator who he believed was a "Scotch-drinking, woman-chasing apostate.”
In 2002, the CIA sent Rolf Mowatt-Larssen to again interview al-Duri and Bayazid, to see if they couldn't be made to defect
Defection
In politics, a defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one state or political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. More broadly, it involves abandoning a person, cause or doctrine to whom or to which one is bound by some tie, as of allegiance or duty.This term is also applied,...
, although both refused.