To: UNHCR in Geneva European Court of Human Rights Detention and planned removal of Kurdish asylum seekers flight to Erbil, Northern Iraq

To: UNHCR in Geneva, European Court of Human Rights

Detention and planned removal of Kurdish asylum seekers flight to Erbil, Northern Iraq

Date: 26 May 2022

Dear Sir Madam

We are writing to register a formal complaint against the UK Border Agency with the UNHCR and European Court of Human Rights regarding the threatened forced deportation of Kurdish asylum seekers flight to Erbil on 31 May2022.

The UK Border Agency in the last two weeks has arrested many Iraqi Kurdish asylum seekers that are being held in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook detention centres 15 of whom have been given plane tickets to Iraqi Kurdistan on the 31st May.
Some of those subject to these detentions and planned removals have been living in UK more than 20 years and have married in the UK and have children born here: They have a right to a family life, which should be protected. It is essential that the UK protects the rights of Iraqi asylum seekers and refugees and treats them with dignity and respect. It is also paramount that the UK adheres to both the letter and the spirit of its obligations under international law to asylum seekers, refugees and displaced people.

We believe that this policy is as a result of a recent meeting between Priti Patel and the Kurdish Regional Government prime minister when he visited the UK. I am particularly concerned about the nature of any agreement the UK Government has made with the KRG regarding the return of Iraqis and Kurds who are seeking asylum in the UK. Regrettably, Iraq remains plagued by violence and continues to experience a spiral of conflict between different religious, nationalists and Islamic groups. It remains unsafe for those who have been forced to flee and seek asylum.

This is all taking place at a time when Iraq is still plagued by the aftermath of war and violence, which is forcing so many to make the dangerous journey across the sea to Europe.
In the Kurdish region of Iraq, workers have been shot at legitimate demonstration requesting payment of wages. The Demonstrators were calling for an improvement to their living conditions, decent pay, and fundamental workers’ rights. These are the issues that people globally have had the liberty to demand in demonstrations and have been free to do so without negative consequences. However, many people in Kurdistan have been detained following peaceful demonstrations.
The Home Office must respect the rights of refugees and must not put the future lives of refugees at risk. The refugees are not toys to be used in a game between the UK Border Agency and the Iraqi government. We cannot accept that the lives of refugees will be gambled in this appalling way.
I am concerned that these detentions and planned removals will be putting people directly at risk, and urge that these actions are urgently halted and the policy reviewed.
We request that the UNHCR and European Court of Human Rights condemn this inhuman treatment and hold countries responsible for failing to respect the spirit and terms of the Geneva Convention 1951.

We look forward to receiving your reply

Kind Regards

Dashty Jamal

General Secretary of International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)

Cc: Amnesty International

Human Rights Watch