Sweden deports Iraqi refugees
Sweden deports Iraqi refugees
Despite the appeals by the United Nations refugee agency to European countries asking them not to deport Iraqi asylum-seekers, Sweden on Wednesday deported 26 Iraqi men, UNCHR said.
Officials with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said they met the deportees, who arrived at Baghdads airport on Wednesday, and were able to speak with 19 of them. Several of the men are from some of what UNHCR describes as Iraqs volatile provinces Baghdad, Diyala, Salaheddin, Nineveh and Kirkuk. The refugee agency has appealed to countries not to deport asylum-seekers from those areas.
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, UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
The agency said of the 19 men officials spoke with, 14 were from Iraqs two most dangerous cities, Baghdad and Mosul. Three of those from Baghdad are Christians, the UNHCR said Thursday.
We understand that a number of those scheduled for return belong to religious and ethnic groups targeted by violence in Iraq, Fleming said. They, and others slated for return, appear to have profiles that would warrant protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention or the European Unions Qualification Directive.
Officials with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said they met the deportees, who arrived at Baghdads airport on Wednesday, and were able to speak with 19 of them. Several of the men are from some of what UNHCR describes as Iraqs volatile provinces Baghdad, Diyala, Salaheddin, Nineveh and Kirkuk. The refugee agency has appealed to countries not to deport asylum-seekers from those areas.
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, UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.
The agency said of the 19 men officials spoke with, 14 were from Iraqs two most dangerous cities, Baghdad and Mosul. Three of those from Baghdad are Christians, the UNHCR said Thursday.
We understand that a number of those scheduled for return belong to religious and ethnic groups targeted by violence in Iraq, Fleming said. They, and others slated for return, appear to have profiles that would warrant protection under the 1951 Refugee Convention or the European Unions Qualification Directive.
