IFIR Statement on World Human Rights Day: A Call for Justice and the Protection of Refugees

On December 10, World Human Rights Day, the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) calls upon the global community to uphold the rights of the millions displaced by war, political instability, and foreign intervention. Refugees are not statistics; they are human beings seeking a future free from persecution. We must challenge a global system that penalizes the victims of state violence and economic devastation while ignoring the root causes of their displacement.

Escalating Violations in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region

The human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq has deteriorated significantly. Freedom of expression, press freedom, and civil liberties are under attack in both the “green and yellow” zones. Authorities are systematically suppressing journalists, activists, and ordinary citizens who demand basic services and unpaid salaries. Security forces routinely block peaceful protests, while the judiciary is increasingly weaponized to silence dissent. This internal repression is compounded by dangerous political and security interference from Turkey and Iran.

The Global Context of Displacement

The current refugee crisis is a direct result of the failure of global capitalist systems and imperialist power struggles. From the proxy war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine to the ongoing conflicts in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, and Libya, instability is being fueled by a scramble for resources and power. Mass migration is the inevitable consequence of these geopolitical conflicts.

Condemnation of European Deportation Policies

Rather than offering protection, European governments, including the UK, are responding to this humanitarian crisis with closed borders, detention centers, and inhumane treatment. Amidst the rise of far-right politics and xenophobia, refugees are being scapegoated for economic crises they did not cause.

IFIR strongly condemns the policy of forced deportation, which returns asylum seekers to the very oppressive regimes they fled. This practice is a flagrant violation of international law. On this day, we demand an immediate halt to forced deportations and call on all human rights organizations to stand in defense of the right to asylum.

 

International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR

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Dashty Jamal
Secretary
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR
Tel:07856032991 Fax:08712664391