IFIR-Eng The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
19 May2017
On Tuesday 16th May Awat Ahmad, a kurdish asylum seeker, lost his life at his work place for unknown reasons. The place of his death is still closed and Awat’s body is being kept at St.George’s hospital in London.
Awat was 29 years old. According to his cousin, he came to the UK as a refugee in 2006 when he was under 18, and was granted temporary permission to stay. However, after he came of age his permission was not renewed and he remained in the country without official “leave to remain”.
Khalid, one of his friends, said: “Awat’s wish was to get permanent residency in the UK. He was a hard worker and a kind person. He worked in the car wash for the past few years.”
Khalid added: “I saw him in the last month, he asked me for a music CD and said to me, ‘I wish I get residency before I die.’ I tried to comfort him.”
Dashty Jamal, secretary of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees said: “Our thoughts are with Awat’s family and friends through this difficult times.
This tragic and sudden death is by no means the first of its kind. Many Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers, as well as many refugees of other nationalities, have committed suicide in the last 10 years, when they were threatened with deportation or simply after years of refusal and waiting.
“Dashty Jamal added: “Awat’s dream to get UK residency never came true. He is another victim of the inhuman politics of the British government against asylum seekers. The UK Government must start an investigation into this death as soon as possible. Our federation is ready to stand with Awat’s family in order to achieve this.”
END: for more information please contact IFIR on 07856032991
