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UK: Coalition to stop deportation to Iraq
and Kurdistan
7.8.2007
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August 7, 2007
Solidarity with Kurdish and Iraqi Asylum seekers
International Federation For Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
and Coalition to stop deportations to Iraq (CSD
Iraq) Campaign of action against Deporting Kurdish
Iraqi Refugees
IFIR in conjunction with CSD Iraq has organised a
number of events across Europe to highlight the
plight of Kurdish Iraqi Refugees across Europe.
Several European countries have declined Kurdish
Iraqi refugee’s claim for asylum, on the grounds
that Iraqi Kurdistan is safe. Unfortunately this is
not true Iraqi Kurdistan is dominated by
lawlessness; administrative and political
corruption; oppression and prosecution of political
opponents. As a result, thousands of youths in Iraqi
Kurdistan have been forced to flee to surrounding
countries or to Europe to seek a peaceful life in
bearable conditions. A recent report from the US
State Department says that people are regularly
tortured in Kurdish prisons.
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The Human Rights record in Iraqi Kurdistan is poor.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
have recently released a report that confirms that
Kurdistan is unsafe and asylum seekers should not be
forcibly deported to Kurdistan. UNHCR and other
organizations have sought urgently to highlight the
fact that Iraq now contains a huge number of
displaced persons, and that about four million
people have fled Iraq, many of these from Iraqi
Kurdistan.
Campaigners from women’s rights and human rights
organizations are routinely threatened by both the
Kurdish authorities and Islamists in Kurdistan. The
internal situation in Kurdistan is, in many ways
tense and fragile, and therefore not a suitable
place to forcibly return Iraqi refugees to. Iraq
including Kurdistan is not safe. Iraqi refugees
should not be forcibly returned if they have
experienced problems with the PUK, KDP or Islamic
groups as they will still be at risk because both
the KDP, PUK parties are still in power and the
Islamic groups are still active and indeed have
recently upped the level of their activity.
The two ruling parties in Kurdistan the Patriotic
Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Kurdish Democrati Party
(KDP) are not democratic parties and continue to
persecute all those who speak against them. The PUK
and KDP violate human rights on a daily basis
Unfortunately several European countries, including
the UK which has forcibly deported eighty seven
Iraqi refugees over the last two years, refuse to
accep that Iraqi Kurdistan like the rest of Iraq is
unsafe. The first event organised by the IFIR and
CSD Iraq was at the UK Home Office, 2 Marsham St,
London 3pm – 5pm Friday 22 June was very well
attende and vocal the demonstrators chanted slogans
calling for the end of forcible deportation and
detention o Iraqi Kurds. The following speakers
addressed the lobby:
Dashty Jamal (IFIR and CSDIRAQ) opened the
lobby speaking about the events planned by IFIR and
CSD Iraq around Europe. IFIR and CSD Iraq will
continue to campaign until full refugee status is
given to all Iraqi Kurdish refugees living in
Europe. Dashty also spoke about the political
station in Iraq and Kurdistan and the problems
facing asylum seekers around Europe.
Aso Goran from IFIR spoke about uniting
asylum seekers around Europe against the policy of
Deportation…
Jean Lambert (Green party MEP), Spoke of the
ongoing crises in Iraq and the scandal of the
thousands of displaced people from the outcome of
the Iraq war that the UK had supported and was now
shamefully forcibly returning refugees to a war
zone.
Tim Finch (Refugee Council) spoke of the
madness of the Home Office’s policy when there are
thousands of people leaving Iraq everyday. The false
economy of detaining and forcibly removing eighty
seven is just madness he hoped that the Home Office
were beginning to recognise this.
Houzan Mahmoud (Organisation of Women’s
freedom in Iraq), spoke of the plight of women in
Iraq she spoke of Dua a young Kurdish woman of
seventeen who was stoned to death by her family in
an honour killing.
Arun Kundnani (Institute of Race Relations)
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Dashty Jamal’s letter to John Reid the UK Home
Secretary
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
and Coalition to Stop Deportations to Iraq here
today yet again to protest in the strongest possible
terms against the Home Office’s determination to
return to Iraq asylum seekers who have been refused
protection here.
IFIR is holding a number of demonstrations across
Europe. Several European Countries have threatened
to forcibly deport Iraqi Kurdish asylum they claim
Iraqi Kurdistan is safe and stable. This is sadly
not true four million Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan
continue to live in uncertainty. The future of the
Kurds is unknown. Violation of human rights is
ongoing in Kurdistan. Women’s is stoning in
Kurdistan, this region is dominated by lawlessness,
administrative and political corruption, oppression,
prosecution of opponents, and shooting at peaceful
demonstrations. As a result thousands of youths in
Iraqi Kurdistan are forced to flee to surrounding
countries or to Europe to seek a peaceful life in
bearable conditions A recent report from the US
State Department says that people are regularly
tortured in Kurdish prisons. The Human Rights record
in Iraqi Kurdistan is poor. |
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The UNHCR have recently
released a report that in our view confirms that
Kurdistan is unsafe and asylum seekers should not be
forcibly deported to Kurdistan.
UNHCR and other organisations have sought urgently
to highlight the fact that Iraq now contains a huge
number of displaced persons, and that about 4
million people have fled Iraq. Many of these have
fled from Kurdistan. Campaigners from women’s rights
and human rights organisations are threatened from
the Kurdish authorities and the Islamists in
Kurdistan. You should be aware from news reports
that the internal situation in Kurdistan is in many
ways tense and fragile, not one suitable for returns
As we have said before, Iraq including Kurdistan is
not safe in general; and in particular, whatever the
Home Office and courts have chosen to say, people
should not be forcibly returned if they had problems
with the PUK and KDP or Islamic groups or other
social actors in the past and know they will still
be at risk if they go back now. Those parties are
still in power, and the Islamic groups are still
active and indeed have recently upped the level of
their activity.
Replies to the International Federation on your
behalf by Kathryn Scott and Tom Dodd have been
superficial and not actually dealt with the reality
of these issues. Grant the right to stay for all
Kurdish and Iraqi asylum seekers and recognize their
refuge status officially by the Home office.
Abolish all the proposed policies of deportations of
Kurdish and Iraqi asylum seekers and lift all
pressures of them by the governments. In the light
of the above, we ask you to stop the policy of
deportations, release the detainees, and recognise
the reality of the situation, which is that people
should not be sent back to Iraq. Our campaign will
continue around Europe to fight for Right for the
Iraqi and Kurdish asylum seekers, for leave to
remain for them, and for an end to destitution,
deportations, and the fear of deportation and
persecution on return.
The Swedish Government is
responsible for the death of 28 year old Mewan Omar
Iraqi Kurdish asylum seeker
On 2 July 2007 the International Federation of Iraqi
Refugees (IFIR) – Gothenburg, International
Organisation of Iranian Refugees (IOIR) with the
family of Mewan Omar held a rally outside the
offices of Gothenburg Postings (GP) Newspaper. The
demonstrators held pictures of Mewan Omar and
chanted the following slogans; Swedish Government is
responsible for the death of Mewan Omar; Asylum
rights are human rights; Refugee status for all
Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers; Following the rally
Mewan Omar’s family, Zuzan Hussen and Hawre Fatah
IFIR representatives were interviewed by GP, SVERGE
radio station, Zayala regarding the demands of the
demonstrators. Following the rally the demonstrators
marched to the place where Mewan Omar’s body was
found and laid red roses in memory of Mewan.
Campaign to Defend Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers
Continues in Sweden
On 28 June 2007 delegates from committee to defend
Kurdish asylum seekers; Hawre Fatah IFIR -
Gothenburg; Vean Karim Organisation of Women’s
Freedom in Iraq – Gothenburg; Tofic Mohammed
International Organisation of Iranian refugees; met
Mr Lars Johansson a member of the Political party
Social Democrats in Sweden, Mr Pelle Berglund leader
of the council of Immigration of Gothenburg, Mr
Hewra Kardwe and Maria a member of the council of
Gothenburg. To discuss the situation of Iraqi
Kurdish asylum seekers in Sweden and the current
situation in Iraq The Committee accused the Swedish
Government of violating refugee rights. The
Committee ended the meeting saying they hoped that
the Swedish Government would grant refugee status to
al Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers give rights to all
asylum seekers At the end of the meeting the
committee handed a letter from Dashty Jamal General
Secretary of IFIR with the UNCHR report to Lars
Johansson.
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The Swedish Government is responsible for the death
of Mewan Omer A crime against refugee rights
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
have been informed that the body of Mewan Omer an
Iraqi Kurdish refugee has been found. Mewan Omer has
been missing for four days. Mewan Omar hanged
himself in Olivia, Valhalbat, Sweden. Mewan claimed
asylum in Netherlands and Sweden but, his claim of
asylum was rejected in both countries. IFIR blames
the Swedish Government for Mewan’s death. Mewan
became depressed after receiving a letter from the
Swedish Government threatening him with deportation.
Mewan’s death is a human tragedy and an outcome of
the policy of the Swedish Government to forcibly
deport Iraqi Kurdish refugees. The Death of Mewan
should not be forgotten. Human rights campaigners
should continue to put pressure on the Swedish
government and press them to prevent future
tragedies such as Mewan’s suicide. Following Mewan’s
suicide IFIR calls on all human rights campaigners,
trade unions and civil rights organizations to join
IFIR’s campaign against forcibly deporting Iraqi
Kurds back to Iraq. This is the time to challenge
European governments threatening to deport Iraqi
Kurds. IFIR calls on all European countries to grant
refugee status to Iraqi Kurdish refugees. IFIR
expresses its sorrow at Mewan’s death but will
continue to campaign against and challenge the
inhumane policies of forcible deportation to Iraq
which led to Mewan’s death. |
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IFIR European campaign Stockholm rally of
Parliament
On 25 June the International Federation of Iraqi
Refugees (IFIR) -Stockholm held a rally outside the
Swedish Parliament. The Rally was part of the IFIR
European campaign against forcibly deportations of
Iraqi Kurdish Refugees across Europe. IFIR also held
demonstrations in the following European Cities who
are also threatening to forcibly deport Iraqi
Kurdish Refugees London, Helsinki and Gothenburg.
The slogans used at the Stockholm Rally where;
Asylum Rights Are Human Rights; Iraq is Unsafe;
Don’t deport us to Iraq; Zuzan Hussain and Ham
Khalid IFIR representatives addressed the
demonstrators regarding the current situation in
Iraq and the plight of Iraqi Refugees in Sweden. At
the end of the rally a letter written by Dashty
Jamal General Secretary of IFIR addressed to the
Swedish Prime Minister and all Swedish MP’s was
handed in to the Swedish Parliament.
Rally in front of Finland Parliament in Helsinki
On Wednesday 20 June 2007 a number of Iraqi and
Kurdish asylum seekers and representatives of
refugee organisations held a demonstration in front
of Helsinki Parliament. The slogans used on the
demonstration were; No to B permission; No
deportations to Iraqi Kurdistan; Iraqi Kurdistan is
unsafe; Following the demonstration a rally was held
at which speeches were given by Amnesty
International and other refugee organisations,
Rebwar Arif IFIR representative – Finland spoke
about the political situation in Iraq and why Iraqi
Refugees have been forced to leave Iraq. When the
speeches finished music was played. Following the
rally Rebwar Arif handed a letter from IFIR -
Finland demanding refugee status for all Iraqi
Kurdish asylum seekers into the Helsinki Parliament.
Rebwar was interviewed by the media and TV stations
regarding the IFIR European campaign.
Dashty Jamal spoke at an event organised by
refugee and Migrant forum as part of refugee week
Ilford, East London, Refugee migrant forum held an
event celebrating refugee week. International
Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) was part of the
event. IFIR put on a slide show highlighting the
campaign of IFIR to support Iraqi refugees and
asylum seekers in the UK. Rita chadha a
representative from Refugee and Migrant Forum opened
the meeting, Dashty Jamal from IFIR spoke about
refugee week, refugee rights and the situation of
Iraqi asylum seekers in the UK.
ECHOES
NEWSLETTER 7
5 JULY 2007
Editor: Dashty Jamal
Tel: 0044- 07856032991,
d.jamal@ntlworld.com
For more information about CSDIRAQ please
Contact: Sarah Parker or Karen Jonhnson,
sarahp107@hotmail.com,
karen8johnson@btinternet.com
Manchester: Burhan Fatah, Tel:/ 07756980271,
burhanfatah@aol.com
Nottingham: Jasim Ghafur Tel:/ 07872970807,
jasm_rg@yahoo.co.uk
Leicester :Aram Hama Tel:07729182083,
aram75dokanie@yahoo.co.uk
www.csdiraq.com
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