Greetingsfrom the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees

In the last 2 years Britainhas deported 300 Iraqi refugees to Baghdad.  Workers and students in Iraq have begun a campaign tooppose this policy.  They are asking forinternational solidarity.  

Many Iraqis have been arrested this week in preparation for another mass deportation to Baghdad.  Accordingto media reports and evidence collected by the International Federation ofIraqi Refugees, many of those who have been deported before are now living in hiding,in fear of the persecution they originally left Iraq to flee.   Some have been assassinated.  Others, have committed suicide only daysafter being deported.  Others have beenkidnapped and killed, while others have had mental breakdowns.  Many more have had to leave the country andbecome refugees again.

Recently, people in Iraq began a movement forfreedom, justice, jobs and services, and against political corruptioninspired by the popular uprisings across the Middle East.Peaceful demonstrations against the authorities were repressed violently.  The government’s response was condemned by AmnestyInternational and HumanRights Watch.  But the Britishgovernment continues to deport people to Iraq.

The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees isbeginning a new campaign.  We demand thatthe Iraqi government stops accepting people forcibly returned to Baghdad Airport. We also demand that the United Nations High Commission of Refugees putspressure on European countries to respect the human rights of Iraqi refugees.  We also demand that the Iraqi governmentcompensates deportees, providing them with work or unemployment benefit andsupports them to rebuild their lives in Iraqand Kurdistan.  

We are therefore writing to ask you to send a letteror e mail from your organisation to the Iraqi Government and the KurdistanRegional Government, in support of these demands.  Please also pass this request onto otherorganisations.  You can write your own oruse the model letter attached below. Please let us know when you have sent yours at ifir@hotmail.co.uk.  

Eight years after the invasion of Iraq, the UK government continues its attackon Iraqi people through policies of detention and deportation. The injustice ofdeportations is now more an issue than ever in Iraqand with more pressure from Europe there is achance the KRG and the Iraqi government can be forced to take a stand againstthem.  

In solidarity

International Federation of Iraqi Refugees

Please write to:

The Kurdistan Region Presidency

Postto: Kurdistan RegionPresidency, Diwan, P.O. BOX 60, Iraqi Kurdistan,Erbil-Iraq

Fax to: 00964 66 223 5505

KRG office in London

Telephone: 00442071704307

Fax to: 00442071704301

The Iraqi Council of Representatives:

complaints@parliament.iq

DearPresident Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki,  

 RE:Deportations to Iraq

In the last 2 years Britainhas deported 300 Iraqi refugees to Baghdad.  Workers and students in Iraq have beguna campaign to oppose this policy.  I amwriting in support of their demands.  

 Many of those who have beendeported to Iraq andKurdistan are now living in hiding, in fear of the persecution they originallyleft Iraqto flee.   Some have beenassassinated.  Others, have committedsuicide only days after being deported. Others have been kidnapped and killed, while others have had mentalbreakdowns.  Many more have had to leavethe country and become refugees again.

We demand that the Iraqi government stopsaccepting people forcibly returned to Baghdad Airport.  We also demand that the Iraqi governmentcompensates deportees, providing them with work or unemployment benefit andsupports them to rebuild their lives in Iraqand Kurdistan.  

We look forward to hearing from you.

 Regards,