Failed refugees to return to Iraq

The Government is set to resume the enforced return of failed asylum seekers to Iraq, it has been reported. According to leaked Home Office documents, obtained by Channel 4 News, the first of the removals is scheduled for Saturday. The Home Office would not confirm the plan, but disclosed that a number of Iraqi nationals had been detained with a view to enforcing their removal to Iraq.

The move is said to follow new advice by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that returns to the relatively peaceful Kurdish region of northern Iraq were now "feasible".
However the Refugee Council has warned that even the Kurdish areas are still too dangerous to return people against their will. According to Channel 4 News, around 15 refugees will be flown out this weekend to the northern city of Irbil.

It quoted the Home Office document as saying: "Despite reservations about the general situation, UNHCR conclude that the forcible returns to the three Northern Governates (Kurdistan) of those who originate from there could be feasible". It goes on: "Should the failed asylum seeker not be permitted to leave the UK voluntarily, their removal will be enforced. Iraq is no different from other countries in this regard but it has taken longer than initially expected to put the practical arrangements in place." The move was condemned by the chief executive of the Refugee Council, Maeve Sherlock, who told Channel 4 News: "Iraq is not safe. Irbil and the Northern Governates are slightly safer than the rest of the country but the situation is very volatile."

"The security situation is very difficult. There are still kidnappings, there is still terrorist activity. We should not be sending people back until we know it is safe and we cannot say that we do." The Home Office first announced its intention to resume enforced removals in February last year, but previous attempts have foundered because the situation in Iraq was judged to be too dangerous. A Home Office spokeswoman said: "It is important for the integrity of our asylum system that any individual who is not found to be in need of international protection should be expected to leave the UK."

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