Stop the deportation of Kozhin Shareef under new UK-Iraq Agreement

11 December2024
IFIR Press release
Stop the deportation of Kozhin Shareef under new UK-Iraq Agreement

The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) condemns the imminent deportation of 29-year-old Kozhin Shareef, a refugee who has been seeking asylum in the United Kingdom since 2015.
 
Kozhin was arrested on December 10, 2024, and is scheduled to be deported to Baghdad on December 18, 2024, on the Royal Jordanian Airlines under a controversial new agreement between the UK, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Regional Government. Kozhin’s case is a clear example of the dangers posed by the recent deal, which puts vulnerable refugees at risk of persecution and harm.

The agreement, which was formalized following a visit to Iraq by UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, facilitates the deportation of Iraqi refugees whose asylum applications have been rejected. It includes provisions for the exchange of information, the extradition of smugglers, and the coordinated deportation of individuals back to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. As part of this agreement, refugees who have sought sanctuary in the UK are now facing the threat of forced return to a country where their safety cannot be guaranteed.

Dashty Jamal, Secretary of IFIR, stated, “The arrest and deportation of refugees such as Kozhin Shareef are a direct consequence of this inhumane agreement. The UK government, along with the Iraqi and Kurdistan Regional governments, are betraying those who sought refuge from violence and persecution. This agreement subject’s refugees to grave risks, including violence, imprisonment, and even death upon their return.”

The IFIR strongly condemns the UK-Iraq deal, arguing that it will not only exacerbate the suffering of those already vulnerable but also violate international refugee protections and human rights laws. With many regions of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region continuing to experience instability, the UK is complicit in exposing refugees to dangers they fled from in the first place. The safety of individuals like Kozhin Shareef, and many others at risk, remains uncertain as they face the imminent threat of deportation.

IFIR calls on the UK government to immediately suspend deportations to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. We urge a thorough reassessment of the risks faced by refugees and an urgent review of the safety conditions in these regions. The deportation of refugee Kozhin to volatile areas constitutes a violation of their right to protection and threatens to further destabilize their lives.
“This agreement does not just harm refugees—it undermines the fundamental values of protection, safety, and dignity for all those seeking asylum,” Jamal added. “We are committed to fighting this unjust policy and will work tirelessly to ensure that those who have fled violence and persecution are not forced to return to environments where their lives are at risk.”

IFIR stands with all refugees and calls on the international community, human rights organizations, trade unions, activists and freedom loving people to demand an end to the UK-Iraq deportation agreement and to support those Kozhin Shareef from danger.

For more information or to get involved, please visit www.federationfir.com.

Dashty Jamal
Secretary
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR
Tel:07856032991 Fax:08712664391