The government has led 44 Iraqi asylum seekers on a not-so-merry dance, flying them back home, only to bring most of them back to the UK today. The asylum seekers had their cases rejected by the Home Office, despite the obvious danger to civilians living in Iraq.
The Independent and Guardian report that the Air Italy-operated aircraft is thought to have left Stansted airport in Essex early yesterday morning after the Iraqi detainees were transferred from two short-term holding centres in southern England.
The UK government chose to ignore the advice of The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees which said that no Iraqis from the five central provinces – including Baghdad – should be forcibly returned.
Sandy Buchan, chief executive of Refugee Action: “If Baghdad is now deemed to be safe then where on earth is deemed dangerous?”
Mr Buchan added: “We urge the government to listen to its own advice and that of the UN Refugee Agency and halt forced removals now until we can guarantee the safety of returnees in an humane and dignified manner.”
Read Refugee Action’s full response here.
Tags: asylum, deportation, Home Office, Iraqis, refugees, UNHCR
Posted by Esme Peach