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Detention of Kurds increases concern over
UK deportation policy
15.2.2007
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Deported Kurds from UK detained by Kurdistan special
police
February 15, 2007
Some reports have at last been received about the
fate of the 38 UK Iraqi/Kurds forcibly removed to
Iraq on February 12 from RAF Brize Norton.
We understand from sources in Erbil that the plane
landed not at the normal passenger terminal but in a
cargo area, and that journalists and most airport
workers were kept away from the area.
Dashty Jamal of the International Federation of
Iraqi Refugees phoned two of the deportees on
Tuesday evening.
The arriving deportees said they were faced with
numbers of KDP special police (Asayish) outside the
plane. Some were beaten by the airplane guards as
they were herded from the plane and on to a waiting
bus.
They were taken to a hotel, which was under the
control of the Asayish.
They reported that some were eventually allowed to
leave with their families, but those without their
family members available are still in the hotel.
It is reported that the Asayish are not allowing
anyone into the hotel to visit the deportees.
The 'International Federation of Iraqi Refugees' and
the 'Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq' in the
UK are very concerned that the British government
still sees fit to deport people to Kurdistan,
subjecting them to being forced on and off military
aircraft.
Peoples' families in Erbil did not know where their
relatives were for many hours.
We are also concerned that the KRG authorities
facilitated the landing of the plane, and done
nothing to stop the deportees being beaten.
The media in Kurdistan has been full of denials from
the PUK and KDP that they had any agreement with the
British government to accept people forcibly
returned.
We also understand from a Home Office letter to
judges dated 2 February that the Home Office has in
fact been concerned about the possibility of
terrorist attacks on Erbil airport, which hardly
supports their argument that the three northern
governorates of Iraq are safe to return people.
oneworld net
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