United Nations concerned about possible forced returns of Iraqis from Europe
June 9th, 2010 - 2:18 am ICT by BNO NewsUNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) – The United Nations (UN) expressed its concerns regarding possible forced returns of Iraqis back to their homeland, the UN refugee agency announced on Tuesday.
In the past days, reports surfaced telling that Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are arranging deportations of Iraqi citizens back to Baghdad, Kirkuk and other areas prone to violence.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Melissa Fleming said that asylum applicants originating from Iraq’s governorates of Baghdad, Diyala, Ninewa and Salah-al-Din, as well as from Kirkuk province, should continue to benefit from international protection.
“Our position reflects the volatile security situation and the still high level of prevailing violence, security incidents, and human rights violations taking place in these parts of Iraq,” Fleming added.
Despite the reports, the UNHCR has not received confirmation on the number and profile of those individuals who are allegedly facing forced deportation. It also urged the asylum authorities in Europe to reconsider the current situation in Iraq, including threats to life, physical integrity or freedom.
A UNHCR report issued last October indicated that Iraq topped the list of the growing number of people seeking asylum in other countries in 2009, just ahead of Afghanistan and Somalia.
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Tags: asylum applicants, baghdad kirkuk, bno, current situation in iraq, deportation, deportations, diyala, high commissioner, human rights violations, iraqi citizens, melissa fleming, norway sweden, physical integrity, refugee agency, salah al din, security incidents, security situation, seeking asylum, situation in iraq, un high commissioner for refugees