Iraq Asylum Seekers Are Sent Home

BBC- Nov 20, 2005

Fifteen failed Iraqi asylum seekers have been sent home from the UK, despite protests that it is not safe.

The group was removed on Sunday and is believed to have been sent to Irbil in the Kurdish northern area of Iraq.

The Home Office said that, although there were difficulties in parts of Iraq, it did not accept this was the case in all areas.

The Refugee Council said it was appalled by the move and the situation all over Iraq remained volatile.

The government decision follows advice from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) that some returns to Kurdish regions of Iraq were now "feasible".

Integrity

The Home Office said the group had been given assistance to "re-establish themselves in Iraq, enabling them to contribute to the rebuilding of their country".

It added: "We can confirm that 15 Iraqi nationals with no leave to remain in the UK were removed to Iraq on 20 November.

"The government announced its intention to commence enforced returns to Iraq in February 2004 and these removals bring Iraq into line with arrangements we have with other countries.

"It's important for the integrity of our asylum system that any individual who's found not to be in need of international protection should be expected to leave the UK."

The security situation is very difficult. There are still kidnappings, there is still terrorist activity. We should not be sending people back until we know it is safe and we cannot say that we do   Maeve Sherlock, chief executive of the Refugee Council

'Sufficiently stable'

The Home Office said voluntary returns were "always preferable" to enforced returns but people would be sent back if they did not volunteer.

"There is clearly a difficult position in those parts of Iraq most affected by insurgencies but we do not accept this is the case in all areas.

"As such, enforced returns are taken forward on a case-by-case basis and only to areas assessed to be sufficiently stable and where we are satisfied that the individuals concerned will not be at risk."

Over the last two years, 1,000 Iraqis had returned home voluntarily "to help rebuild their country and hundreds more are preparing to return", the Home Office added.

But Tim Finch, director of communications at the Refugee Council, said it was "appalled".

He added: "We do not believe the government has taken sufficient steps to ensure the safety of the people it has sent back to this war-torn region.

'Undue haste'

"The way the Home Office has handled this removal process has been deplorable. People who are rounded up and detained awaiting removal should at least be able to get access to a lawyer who can make last-minute representations on their behalf.

"It is clear that in many cases this has not happened.

"The government has acted in secrecy and with undue haste and that cannot be right when people fear for their lives if they are returned."

The UNHCR's latest advisory on the return of Iraqis says that promoting voluntary returns to the three Northern Governorates, including Irbil, was feasible provided returnees had "family and community links that can ensure their access to protection, housing and other basic services".