Amnesty International: States must stop returning Iraqis

On 7 June, Amnesty International called on the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the UK to stop forcibly returning Iraqis, as a joint return flight was planned for 9 June. “The decision to forcibly return Iraqis is in direct breach of guidelines set out by the UNHCR, which has urged governments not to return individuals to Iraq, until the security situation improves”, Amnesty International says. Amnesty urged States to grant international protection – or temporary humanitarian protection – to Iraqis, considering that “the Iraqi government is clearly unable to protect its own citizens, including those returned to the country from abroad.” UNHCR considers that “serious – including indiscriminate – threats to life, physical integrity or freedom resulting from violence or events seriously disturbing public order are valid reasons for international protection.” UNHCR calls on States to ensure that the situation in Iraq as a whole, including the important level of lawlessness, is factored into their assessments of asylum claims. Sources: – Amnesty International, ‘European states must stop the imminent forcible return of Iraqis’ – UNHCR, ‘UNHCR cautions against European deportations to Iraq’ – BBC News, ‘Iraqi asylum seekers deported amid safety fears’ – The Guardian, ‘David Cameron defends deportation of failed Iraqi asylum seekers’