On September 5, 2024, the forced relocation of the Iranian Kurdistan opposition in Iraqi Kurdistan from Zrgoez camp to Surdash camp within the framework of the previous agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and both the Iraqi and the Kurdistan Regional governments came into effect. Meanwhile, according to Hangaw Human Rights Organization, Sulaimani security forces extradited Bahzad Khosravi, originally from Saqiz, a political activist back to Iran last week after severe torture.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has a long history of implementing cruel policies, some of which are included in these efforts and pressures. These policies have been carried out in many forms throughout the last few years. From murdering and assassinating hundreds of political activists and refugees, who have not been doing political work for many years and are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to the bombing of Iranian opposition headquarters living in Kurdistan. Dozens of women and children have been targeted and the Islamic Republic of Iran wants to transfer the Iranian Kurdistan opposition forces from their current camps to other camps that have been designated for them according to a plan and in order to turn them from political activities to disenfranchised refugees on the one hand and to be under the control and supervision of its affiliated forces in the region on the other. There is no guarantee that they will not be shelled by this murderous and repressive regime in the future.
The Iraqi government and the two ruling parties in Kurdistan, which have put themselves in the arms of the region’s countries for decades for their own interests, have not hesitated to cooperate with Iran and Turkey’s agendas, allowing them to open bases and headquarters of their spy agencies to terrorise and murder political activists and journalists on a daily basis using drones and murderous gangs, putting people’s lives and security at risk. What was done this time by the PUK authorities to forcibly relocate the Iranian opposition to detention camps is part of their good service tomaintain the balance of power over the Kurdish people.
We, the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR and the International Organisation of Iranian Refugees, strongly condemn the forcible transfer of Iranian opposition forces to designated camps while also declaring that the Iraqi and the Kurdistan Region governments share responsibility for the safety and security of opposition forces and Iranian refugees. We also hold the United Nations responsible for the deportation of political activists opposed to the Islamic Republic of Iran who have been registered as refugees with the United Nations. These steps should not be allowed to pass easily, and freedom loving people, human rights organizations and refugee advocates should press both the Iraqi government and the KRG to cancel the agreement and curtail Iran’s hand over the Kurdistan Region.
International Organisations of Iranian Refugees
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR
6 September 2024
IFIR-Eng The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
