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Home Office says flights to
Kurd region will begin within days
The first enforced returns of failed asylum seekers
to northern Iraq are expected possibly as early as
this weekend despite objections from regional
Kurdish authorities and the UN refugee agency.
The Home Office has confirmed that 38 men are being
held at immigration detention centres around Britain
and that officials are "looking at a number of
dates" for their return.
They are likely to be flown on an RAF aircraft, via
Cyprus, to the newly opened airport in Irbil, the
regional capital. The Kurdish community believes the
first flight will leave tomorrow. Many refugees say
they could be killed, even in northern Iraq.
There are thought to be as many as 7,000 Iraqis in
the UK who have been refused asylum and face
deportation. The deportations will begin by the
dispatch of single men to Iraqi Kurdistan, which has
largely - though not entirely - been spared the
onslaught of Islamist suicide bombings.
"We will only return to areas assessed as
sufficiently stable and where we are satisfied
individuals will not be at risk," a Home Office
spokesman said yesterday. "Enforced returns will be
taken on a case-by-case basis.
"It's important for the integrity of the asylum
system that anyone found not to be in need of
protection is required to leave the UK. Enforced
returns will commence as soon as we have made
relevant arrangements."
The decision to deport was taken in February 2004
but two new factors have stiffened the government's
resolve: a reassessment of immigration priorities
after the London tube bombings and the first flight
this month into Irbil of those returning
voluntarily.
Although only 18 people were on the plane arranged
by the International Organisation for Migration, it
opened up a route that avoids the dangers of
overland journeys via Baghdad.
"It has made life a bit easier for those wanting to
go back," said Marek Effendowicz of the
organisation. "In the last year we have helped 300
Iraqis return from the UK."
But the Home Office decision has triggered protests
by human rights bodies and refugee groups who warn
it is not safe anywhere in Iraq. One Kurd told the
Guardian he was no longer reporting to the Home
Office because he feared he would be detained.
The London office of the UN high commissioner for
refugees yesterday restated its opposition. "Iraq is
still extremely unstable and dangerous," it warned.
"No part of Iraq can be considered safe, although
... some areas are more stable than others. The UK
government [should also] review its low recognition
rate of Iraqi asylum seekers."
Even the regional government in Irbil has warned it
does not want to be burdened with unwilling
returnees.
Massoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan
Democratic party, condemned the move, declaring it
"was unnecessary to force Kurds to leave Britain".
The Kurdistan regional government office in London
added: "The British authorities are aware of [our]
position. We are in continuing dialogue and are
hopeful the situation can be resolved."
At the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, north
London, this week, failed asylum-seekers were angry
and anxious. They were aware that scores of people
have been detained and only some released.
"The Home Office have a policy to refuse everyone,"
said Bestun Baban, an exiled journalist from
Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq who arrived in 1999.
"It doesn't depend on each case. They just say: 'Go
to Kurdistan.' The [London tube] bombings have
changed attitudes to asylum seekers.
"Iraq is a very dangerous place for everyone. One
month ago in Kurdistan they found an Islamist cell
which had been killing people and cutting up their
bodies. They had been operating for three years,
abducting people. Each of the Kurdish parties may
have their own militia but they cannot keep law and
order. It is very difficult to know how to rebuild
your life. I have been here six years but I have
been refused leave to stay."
Sarah Parker, a voluntary worker at the centre,
added: "People are very scared about being sent back
now. They would go back if it was safe. They are
scared and feel they have been treated very badly by
the Home Office."
Soran Hamarash, manager of the immigration section
at the Kurdish Cultural Centre in south London,
attended a meeting at the Home Office on Thursday.
"We have asked for these deportations to be
delayed," he said. "It is chaos. Officials just have
targets to meet. The system is so unfair.
"I know of one man who is facing deportation even
though he has four employees and a mortgage. Some
have been here since 1997."
'They killed my brother and are looking for me'
Diar Mohammed Nasir, 29, from Kirkuk:
My brother and I refused to do military service for
Saddam. He was executed; I was tortured. My arm was
broken and I was sent to hospital in 1999. I escaped
to Halabja in the Kurdish autonomous zone and was
pressured to join an Islamist group, the IMK.
They told me to drive a car full of TNT to the
Communist party offices in Sulaimaniya. They wanted
to blow up everyone inside. I'm not a terrorist, so
I warned them of the attack. The IMK then issued a
fatwa against me.
In September 2000, I left because I feared for my
life. I paid $4,500 to a man in Turkey and came to
the UK. The Islamists have been to the house in
Sulaimaniya looking for me. They are everywhere in
Iraq. Our house in Kirkuk is occupied by an Arab
family. I have been refused asylum.
Rezgar Mohammed, 24, from Sulaimaniya:
I fled northern Iraq because of a blood feud with a
tribal group. My brother accidentally shot one of
them when his gun went off. They killed another of
my brothers in revenge and would have killed me if I
had not come to London in January 2001.
I used to be a driver. My wife and children are
still there, but I haven't been in contact with them
for a long time.
I am worried the Home Office will try to send me
back even though the blood feud is continuing.
Dilan Nazie, 24, from Sulaimaniya:
I am a sculptor and I made statues which showed the
human body. The Islamists objected. I went into
hiding. The Islamists seized me and would have
killed me, but I escaped to Turkey, then by lorry to
the UK.
If I am sent back I will be executed. Last month my
family received a threatening letter. These
Islamists are still abducting people, particularly
artists and intellectuals.
Iraq is the most dangerous country in the world.
Most of the Iraqi and Kurdish leaders have their
families living in Europe. So why is it considered
safe for us?
I have been refused asylum by the Home Office. I am
scared.
Dalwar Mawlood, 30, from Irbil:
I have been in London since 1998. I used to be a
lorry driver, delivering petrol. I have been refused
permission to stay in the UK. I'm worried that when
I next report to the Home Office I will be detained.
They have told me I will have to go back.
But I don't want to. It's too dangerous. There are
suicide bombings every day, people being killed.
There have been attacks in northern Iraq, too. No
one can protect us from those. There were 300 people
killed several months ago.
www.guardian.co.uk
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