Fifty Iraqi Kurds forcibly deported to Iraq

From: "d.jamal" <d.jamal@ntlworld.com>

Yadga an Iraqi Kurd detained in Tinsley House reported to IFIR that a number of Iraqi Kurdish refused asylum seekers were taken from Tinsley and Dover House to Stansted Airport on Monday 27th October.

Yadga told the Home Office escorts that he was due to be released that day.The escorts however ignored him.Yadga was forced onto a coach with the other Kurdish refused asylum seekers.Yadga reported there was a convoy of four coaches travelling to the airport.  Each asylum seeker as before was accompanied by two escorts.  Following phone calls from Yadga's solicitors he was taken from the holding area at Stansted airport and returned to Tinsley House at 6:00pm Monday evening.

Dashty Jamal IFIR Secretary called Awat from Sulaymania. Awat said he and five other Kurdish asylum seekers refused to board the plane and were beaten very badly by their escorts prior to being forced to board the International Hamburg airplane.The flight arrived at Arbil airport at approximately 4:00am the morning of the 28 October.  Awat reported that they waited in Arbil for 30 minutes until they were diverted to Sulaymania airport.

This is the sixth time that Iraqi Kurds have been forcibly removed in such large numbers.  Generally the UK deports Iraqi Kurds using Royal Jordanian airlines.  All of these removals are in contravention of the Geneva Convention which states that asylum seekers should not be returned to a war zone.

IFIR asks all Human and refugee rights organisations, Trade Unions and Trade Councils to write letters of protest condemning this flight to the Home Secretary:

Phil Woolas,

2 Marsham St,

London SW1P

Fax:00442070354745

International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR

CSDIraq

For more information please contact:

Dashty Jamal 078 5603 2991 / d.jamal@ntlworld.com

Karen Johnson 078 0489 1082  / Karen.Johnson@btinternet.com

Samera Ahmad 078 2842 4164

sarahp107@hotmail.com