HRW: UK forces Iraqi refuge seekers to return home [Archives:2005/870/Local News]

SANA'A- Human Rights Watch (HRW) based in Yemen said the United Kingdom have to cancel its plans with respect to returning the unaccepted refugees to Iraq this time due to unsafe circumstances and security concerns in the war-ravaged country.

The British Ministry of Interior arrested tens of Iraqis and is still detaining them at the deportation centers with accelerating procedures for their deportation, the HRW added.

On August 15, the British Ministry of Interior held the unaccepted refuge seekers to send them back to Iraq but it refrained from mentioning their number.

According to the Refugees Council, a non-governmental organization based in London, the British authorities have captured around 43 Iraqis since August 13, meanwhile press reports indicate the number may reach 100.

On the 14th of August, a Spokesman for the Ministry of Interior mentioned that not all the areas in Iraq are affected by offensives, and that only Iraqi nationals who are not subjected to oppression and need not human protection will be deported.

Official reports state that a plane belonging to the British Ministry of Defense will transport the first batch of Iraqis on August 28 to Irbil, an area to the north of Iraq with Kurds majority.

The Deputy Manager of the Middle East and North Africa Department at HRW noted: “it is impossible to bring all Iraqis worldwide together and force them come back home against their will. Meanwhile the British Foreign Ministry advised the British nationals against traveling to Iraq and warns them of deadly offensives carried out by insurgents.” “Peace and safety relatively exist in today's Iraq, and these days are suitable for forcing Iraqis abroad to return home”, he added.

The HRW said the situation in Iraq is still unstable, and as most of the areas in the country are prevailed by lawlessness, attacks and bombings increases claiming lives of several.
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