Finland to Deport Kurdish Refugees Back to
Southern Kurdistan
HELSINKI, Finland, -UPI- Mar 31, 2007 -
Finland plans to lay the groundwork for repatriating Iraqi Kurds asylum-seekers
who come from three Kurdish provinces (Sulaimaniyah, Erbil, Duhok) in Kurdistan
region (northern Iraq).
The move by the country's Directorate of Immigration could lead to the departure
of a majority of Iraqis living in Finland under temporary residence permits, the
daily Helsingin Sanomat reports.
Until now repatriation of the Iraqis was impossible for logistical reasons,
including a lack of reliable air service.
The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for
Refugees has decided repatriation to the Kurdish provinces in Kurdistan region
(the north of Iraq) is possible under certain circumstances.
Last year Finland granted temporary residence permits to 81 Iraqis.
