An open letter to Turkish Air line
ifir web
May 5, 2017
Home, Information on Refugee Issues
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02/05//2017 Dear Sir/ Madam
I am writing on behalf of the Iraqi community to complain about Turkish airlines allowing their airline to be used by the British state to forcibly deport people back to Iraq. I wish to inform you this policy has affected the lives of many Iraqi asylum seekers who have built their family life in the UK. Many of those currently detained under threat of deportation have lived in the UK for 10-15 years. By allowing Turkish airline to be used to forcibly deport Iraqi’s are enabling the UK state to destroy the family life of these people. Many of those who have been forcibly deported in the past have become mentally ill, committed suicide or become refugees again. By continuing with this policy you will face the condemnation from many human rights, refugee organizations and freedom loving people across the world.
These deportations are taking place at a time when Iraq is still plagued by war and violence, which is forcing so many to make the dangerous journey across the sea to Europe. Forcible deportations to Iraq are also not supported by all MP’s in the Iraq Parliament. I attach for your information International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) 30 April press release which includes the names of 104 Iraqi MP’s who are calling for the end of forcible deportation flights from Europe to Iraq.
I also bring to your attention the experience of Araz Ismael who was deported on the 11 April 2017 at 17.05, Heathrow airport. Araz was bound and placed in the aircraft toilet for the duration of the flight from the Heathrow to Amman. . IFIR has made a complaint to the home office regarding Araz’s deportation. I ask that you bring this to the attention of all your staff. To ensure the same does not happen on a Turkish airlines flight. Please note the following reports (links below) have been published in the UK media
IFIR calls on you to:
ï To immediately stop accepting bookings from the UK Border Agency and its contractors to forcibly deport people to Iraq;
ï To cancel all bookings already made to forcibly deport Iraqi’s;
ï Stop Turkish Airlines profiting from the UK’s deportation policy that risks the lives of Iraqi refugees.
Turkish Airlines by assisting the UK Government to forcibly deport people to Iraq is putting profit before human rights and as such is complicit in human rights abuses.
We look forward to your response,
Regards
Dashty Jamal
Secretary of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
IFIR-Eng The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees
