Author
ifir web
Joint Statement by Women Activists and Human Rights Organisations on the Death of Ghazal Mawlan
by ifir web
written by ifir web
Justice Must Be Served: End Discriminatory Medical Practices and Protect the Fundamental Right to Life
Ghazal Mawlan, a 20-year-old woman and a member of the Kurdish organisation of Iran, was critically injured on April 14 following drone attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran targeting a refugee camp in Soordash in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Despite her urgent and life-threatening condition, she was transferred between multiple hospitals in Sulaymaniyah and was systematically denied medical treatment due to her political identity and discriminatory legal and administrative barriers.
Bakhshin Hospital, fully equipped to provide the necessary care, explicitly refused treatment on political grounds, citing lack of authorisation from local police under the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), as well as policies prohibiting the admission of Iranian nationals or individuals affiliated with Peshmerga forces. This refusal constitutes a deliberate denial of life-saving care.
We, as women’s organisations and human rights activists, unequivocally condemn this act as a grave violation of international human rights law and medical ethics. We hold the Kurdistan Regional Government responsible for enforcing discriminatory and unlawful policies that directly contributed to the death of Ghazal Mawlan. These policies institutionalise medical discrimination and transform healthcare providers into agents of political exclusion, in clear breach of their legal and ethical obligations.
We further assert that the denial of treatment in this case constitutes a violation of the fundamental right to life, as protected under international human rights frameworks, and breaches core principles of international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions, which mandate the non-discriminatory treatment of the wounded and sick under all circumstances.
Medical professionals and institutions are bound by the Hippocratic Oath and universally recognised ethical standards to provide care impartially and without discrimination. The actions of Bakhshin Hospital and any other involved institutions represent a serious dereliction of duty and a violation of medical neutrality. The refusal to treat a patient on political grounds is not only unethical, it may amount to criminal conduct.
We therefore call for immediate, independent, and transparent investigations into the role of Bakhshin Hospital, its administrative authorities, and all relevant officials. We demand that those responsible be held fully accountable through appropriate legal mechanisms. This includes potential disciplinary actions, suspension or revocation of medical licenses, and, where applicable, civil and criminal prosecution under both domestic and international legal standards.
Accountability in this case is essential not only for justice for Ghazal Mowlan, but also to send a clear and unequivocal message: discrimination in medical care will not be tolerated, and violations of human dignity and medical neutrality will carry consequences.
Finally, we call on all human rights defenders, women’s rights movements, civil society actors, and people of conscience worldwide to take action. Raise your voices. Demand accountability. Pressure the Kurdistan Regional Government to repeal all discriminatory laws and practices that restrict access to medical care based on nationality, political identity, or affiliation.
Healthcare is not a privilege to be granted or withheld based on politics, it is a fundamental human right. The use of medical systems as instruments of political control is unlawful, unethical, and indefensible under any circumstances.
Please add the name and organization to the list:
****************************************
-
Helaleh Taheri, Founder of Middle Eastern Women and Society Organisation(MEWSO)-The UK
-
Dashty Jamal, Secretary of the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)- The UK
-
Bahar Munzir, Board Member of the Independent Women’s Organisation (IWO)-Iraq/Kurdistan
-
Sawsan Salim, Director of Kurdish and Middle Eastern Women’s Rights (KMEWO)- The UK
-
Saeed Arman, Secretary of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees (BIMARZ) -The UK
-
Abdulkarim Abdulsada Omran (Abu Watan), President of the General Federation of Workers’ Unions in Iraq & President of the General Energy Union- Iraq
-
Dabin Organisation for Democracy Development and Human Rights-Iraqi Kurdistan
-
The March 8 Network- (Composed of 30 organisations, Journalists, academics established 2022, to advocate for women’s rights and struggle for equality between women and men in Kurdistan)
-
Alience for Workers Liberty -The UK
-
Azar Majedi, Spoke Woman of Women Liberation Organisation (WLO) Iran
-
Lisa Marie, Co-founder & CEO, FILIA- Amplifying the Voices of Women
-
Pragna Patel, Co-Director, Project Resist- The UK
-
Mercedeh Ghaedi, Board member of No To Execution in Iran
-
Solayman Ghasemiani, Chair Man-Working class Art and Literacy-Hana magazine-Sweden
-
Movement For Justice By Means Necessary- The UK
-
Maryam Namzi, Spoke Woman of One Law for All-The UK
-
Rebwar Aref, head of the congress of Freedom and Change- Kurdistan/Iraq
-
Vicki Morris, UNISON Trade Union activist (personal capacity)
-
Freedom for Sustainable Development in Kurdistan- Kurdistan/Iraq
-
Halala Rafi, International Committee for Women’s Rights & Women’s Shelter Nina-Sweden
-
Kurdistan Justice Seekers – Iraqi Kurdistan
-
Sara Mohamd, Chair Woman for Never Forget Pela & Fadima- Sweden
-
Mohammad Alloush, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Workers’ Struggle Union-Palestine
-
Dian Nami, Executive Director of Kurdish & Iranian Women organisation-IKWRO
-
Karen Johnson female activist anti migrant campaigner and Trade Union member of ‘PCS’ and ‘No Sweat’
-
Association of the Injured and Justice Seekers of the Zhina Uprising
-
Organisation of the Voice of Eastern Kurdistan- Kurdistan/Iran
-
United Voice Institution- Iran
-
Sheila Bidlecomb Animal Rights campaigner Dorset and Unison trade union activist in a personal capacity
-
Samad Almasi, Solidarity with Iranian people Struggle – London-he UK
-
Woman – Life – Freedom Unity Organisation-Iran
-
Human Rights Activists Organisation-Iran
-
Azizeh Lotfi, Board member of the Kurdistan Women’s Union- Kurdistan/Iran
-
Abi Asadi, The secretary of International Federation of Iranian Refuge- Sweden
-
Sahra Bahar, Member of Justic for Prisoners in Iran, Against Execution-Iran
-
Kurdish Women Project-London (KWP)
-
Zahra Tekin, Iranian Community Network (Oxford)- The UK
-
Sedika Mohammadi, Association for the Struggle for the Liberation of Iranian Women-Sweden
The US–Israeli war against Iran has destroyed peace for the whole world and the working class. Thousands of people have been killed or injured, and thousands more have been forced to flee their homes. This war has damaged schools, hospitals, and the economy. The violence has spread across the Middle East, targeting civilians and even hitting refugee camps in Iraqi Kurdistan. We must act now to stop this war before Iran is destroyed like Gaza.
This is not a war for “freedom.” It is a war to protect U.S. power. The United States is facing a deep economic crisis and is losing its influence around the world. By starting this war, the U.S. is trying to stop the rise of rivals like China and Russia. The U.S. has failed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now it is trying to use the Middle East to create a “new world order” that serves its own interests.
The U.S. and Israel claim they want to save the Iranian people from their government. This is a weak excuse. The working class and the people of Iran have been fighting the Islamic Republic for over 47 years. Movements like “Women, Life, Freedom” show that Iranians are already fighting for their own change.
For decades, U.S. policies have made life a “hell” for Iranians. These policies have helped the ruling class while the common people suffered from poverty and repression.
This war is a blow to the protest movement inside Iran. When bombs fall, people have to focus on surviving and protecting their families instead of protesting. War gives the Iranian leaders an excuse to use more violence and silence those who disagree with them.
Those who hope to gain power through U.S. and Israeli missiles are not helping the revolutionary aims of the Iranian people. They are acting as mercenaries. They are willing to risk the same deadly results we saw in Iraq, Syria, and Libya.
The U.S. and Israel might be able to overthrow a government through bombing, but they cannot bring peace or success. Just like in Iraq, they may win a military battle but fail to achieve anything better.
The Islamic Republic must be overthrown from the inside by the working class, the poor, and the revolutionary forces of the people of Iran. Only the people of Iran can build a future based on rights, freedom, and dignity.
We the International Federation of Iraq (IFIR):
-
Call this a “reactionary war” because its only goal is to protect the power of the elite. It brings nothing but death and insecurity to the working class.
-
Call on trade unions, refugee organisations, and women’s rights groups to raise their voices, organise actions, and pressure governments to stop this violence
-
Demand an immediate end to all American and Israeli attacks. Stand against any imposed government in Iran and support the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom and equality.
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR
20/03/2026
Assassination of Yanar Mohammed: A Profound Loss for Women’s Freedom and Justice
by ifir web
written by ifir web
Assassination of Yanar Mohammed: A Profound Loss for Women’s Freedom and Justice
Yanar Mohammed a female campaigner for women’s equality has been assassinated in Baghdad Today at 9:AM (2 March 2026) Iraqi time.
Comrade Yanar Mohammed was taken from us too early, leaving behind shocked and grieving friends and comrades.
Yanar Mohammed, the president of the organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq(OWFI) and a member of the central committee of the Communist Alternative Organisation, was seriously wounded by two motorcycle terrorists, in front of her residence. Tragically shortly after arriving at hospital she died of her injuries.
Yanar Mohammed, a prominent activist of the women’s equality movement, the president of the Women’s Freedom Organization and an active communist activist, worked with the Communist Alternative Organization. The assassination of Yanar Mohammed is a great loss to the women’s equality movement and the communist movement.
On this sad occasion, we at the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees -IFIR strongly condemn this terror act and call on the Iraqi government to find the suspects and bringing them to justice. At this sad time we offer our solidarity and condolences to Yaner’s family and all women’ rights defenders across the world.
The name of Comrade Yanar Mohammed will remain alive in the hearts of the freedom fighters of the region.
International Federation of Iraqi refugees-IFIR
2March2026
Protecting Women is Protecting Society!
March 8th is the day when the movement for equality and freedom for women takes to the streets against the oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and disenfranchisement of women. It is a day dedicated to achieving comprehensive equality between women and men in all spheres of life – social, political, economic, legal, and cultural. It is a day to stand against the customs, ideas, traditions, and the culture of capitalist power, which -to maintain and preserve the pillars of this exploitative, discriminatory, and unequal system – has kept women in an inferior, second-class social status. Therefore, the struggle to end social inequality between women and men is tied to the dismantling of the capitalist system that has imposed its power over society.
Today, International Women’s Day is observed in a context where women and young girls are on the front lines as victims of the capitalist class system, led and managed by national and religious fascism and racism. In addition to domestic and social violence, women receive lower wages compared to men and face sexual harassment in the workplace. This is alongside the bitter realities faced by workers in general and foreign migrant women workers in particular. Wars, instability, and political and military conflicts have stolen the lives of women and children. The soul-crushing files of Jeffrey Epstein are a disgusting example of how capitalists, presidents, high-ranking officials, and free-market monopolies overlook sexual assault and the trafficking of women and girls for their shared interests. From Palestine to Afghanistan, from Iran to Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, and Syria, women are systematically oppressed, killed, and subjected to violence, inequality, lack of rights, discrimination, and reactionary forces. The Epstein case and the killing of women in Kurdistan and Iraq are both symptoms of a global system for which women pay the price. Therefore, initiating a universal and global struggle to overturn this system – under which life for women and humanity has become a great stain of shame on the forehead of human society – has become an unavoidable necessity!
In Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the situation of women is an ugly reflection of the power held by reactionary, nationalist, and political Islamic forces. Individual and civil rights, and women’s rights specifically, are not only non-existent, but thousands of women have been killed under the pretexts of “honour” and “reputation.” The marriage of 9-year-old girls has been legalized under the name of the “Jaafari Personal Status Law.” Dozens of women have been forced into self-immolation. According to statistics from women’s organizations on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 53 women were killed in Kurdistan last year alone. The waves of character assassination, intellectual terrorism, defamation, and insults targeting female activists, women’s organizations, and female figures in political, economic, social, and organizational fields are on the rise. The authorities in Iraq and Kurdistan are not only indifferent to the tragedies committed against women, but they themselves are behind the issuance of these laws and regulations, maintaining a backward patriarchal culture and giving a free hand to religious figures and preachers who promote insults, humiliation, and violence against women, and attack the bodies of women through legal articles.
Despite this heart-wrenching situation for women and the oppression, disenfranchisement, and repressive, backward nature of the authorities in Iraq and Kurdistan, women workers, the downtrodden, the equality movement, and women’s organizations have not surrendered. They represent another side of the reality of society in Kurdistan—one characterized by the freedom-loving and humanitarian traditions of women. This is an undeniable reality of Kurdish society, where the social resistance of women and their refusal to submit to the force of authority and reactionary laws has become a source of concern for the ruling powers and the reactionary front of society.
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR), which has always stood and struggled to remove threats to women’s lives and opposed violence and honour killings, fights alongside women’s activists and freedom-seekers to establish full rights for women and to ensure they are treated as equal citizens within society.
On March 8th this year, the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees—aiming to change the conditions under which women in Iraq and Kurdistan live, which has also had a negative impact about refugee women abroad—expresses its full support for the efforts and activities of women’s organizations and the March 8th Network in Kurdistan. We call upon women’s organizations, activists, and humanitarian organizations worldwide to support, by any means possible, the abolition of the Jaafari Law by the Iraqi Parliament and to hold the authorities in Iraq and Kurdistan accountable for the disenfranchisement, violence, and killing of women. We urge support for the establishment of a modern, humanitarian, and equal law to secure women’s rights and to support the following demands:
-
The abolition of the Jaafari Law in the Iraqi Parliament, which legalizes the marriage of 9-year-old girls.
-
The abolition of the polygamy law in the Kurdistan Parliament.
-
The prohibition of incitement to violence against women, and legal punishment for the clerics and preachers who engage in such acts.
-
Treating the killing of women as a major crime; killers of women must not be eligible for any amnesty laws and must receive their full punishment.
-
The replacement of the Iraqi Parliament’s Jaafari Law with a modern, humanitarian law that guarantees comprehensive equality between women and men.
Defending women and their rights is defending the protection of society!
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
02/03/2026
Rescue Campaign for Survival International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
by ifir web
written by ifir web
Rescue Campaign for Survival
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
6 February 2026
Delivering Aid to Those in Need – “Rescue Campaign for Survival”
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) extends its sincere thanks to all supporters of freedom, humanitarian activists, workers, and every part of society in the Kurdistan Region and abroad. We especially thank the people of Kirkuk for their strong involvement and generous support in our campaign to help displaced people.
This campaign was launched in response to the severe humanitarian situation faced by communities who bravely resisted ISIS and became a symbol of strength and resilience. Despite this, they later suffered attacks and violations that forced many residents of the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods to flee, alongside the harsh siege imposed on the city of Kobani.
Your contributions and solidarity have provided essential support to dozens of displaced and affected families. You have also shown that human compassion and social unity are vital in times of crisis.
We would like to inform you that all collected aid, including food and basic supplies has been safely delivered through the Union to the Red Cross in Sulaymania. It will be distributed according to humanitarian guidelines to low‑income families and displaced people in mainly Kurdish‑speaking areas of Syria (Rojava).
In difficult times, cooperation and community support are among the highest humanitarian values. They strengthen resilience and help communities face exceptional challenges.
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees expresses its deep appreciation for your trust, continued support, and commitment to helping vulnerable people. Together, our humanitarian efforts can overcome all boundaries.
We also offer our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and energy during the four‑day campaign in Kirkuk, especially in the Shorja neighbourhood. Their efforts were essential to the success of this initiative.
With our highest respect and appreciation,
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
6 February 2026

Subject: Urgent Appeal for Sheikh Maqsood, Ashrafieh, and Kobani
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) is deeply alarmed by the dangerous situation facing the Kurdish people in Syria (Rojava). We strongly condemn the forced displacement of more than 155,000 Kurdish civilians from the Sheikh Maqsood and Ashrafieh neighbourhoods in Aleppo.
These families have been forced to flee their homes due to attacks and heavy pressure. Furthermore, we are very concerned about the ongoing siege of Kobani. The city is surrounded, and the people are living under a strict blockade.
Urgent Need for Aid
The people in these areas and across Rojava are facing a humanitarian disaster. They are in desperate need of help to survive. We specifically appeal for the immediate provision of:
• Medicine for the sick and wounded.
• Tents for those who have lost their homes.
• Bedding and blankets to protect against the cold.
• Kerosene (heating oil) for heating and cooking.
The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees declares the following:
1. We stand in full solidarity with the displaced people of Sheikh Maqsood, Ashrafieh, and Kobani.
2. We call on the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to break their silence and act immediately.
3. The blockade on Kobani must be lifted instantly to allow these essential supplies to reach the people.
4. Forcing people to become refugees and displacing them from their land is a violation of human rights.
The world must not ignore this tragedy. We demand immediate protection and support for the civilians in these areas.
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
24/1/2026

Subject: Formal Appeal to Immediately Halt the Deportation of Zahra Kazemipour and Her Family
Date:23/12/2025
We, the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR), hereby submit this formal and urgent appeal regarding the imminent deportation of Ms. Zahra Kazemipour, her husband Mr. Afshad Joubeh, and their two children. We respectfully request that the Government of Sweden immediately suspend and reconsider the deportation order issued against this family.
Ms. Kazemipour and her family sought asylum in Sweden nine years ago after fleeing persecution in Iran. Although their asylum application was rejected four years ago, they were subsequently granted the right to remain and work under the former legal provision that allowed a transition from asylum grounds to employment‑based residence. During this period, they have been continuously employed at Södertälje Hospital, contributing significantly to Swedish public services and to the wider community.
Recent legislative changes have annulled the legal basis under which this family and many others in comparable circumstances were previously granted residence and work permits. As a direct consequence, they now face the immediate threat of deportation.
We wish to underscore that Mr. Joubeh was previously arrested and imprisoned by the Islamic Republic of Iran. His forced return would expose him to a substantial, well documented, and immediate risk of persecution, arbitrary detention, or severe ill treatment. Furthermore, the couple’s two children, who have spent the entirety of their formative years in Sweden, would suffer profound psychological and emotional harm if uprooted and returned to a country they do not know.
Proceeding with this deportation would constitute:
-
A clear violation of fundamental human rights principles, exposing this family to persecution and serious harm in a country where their safety cannot be guaranteed
-
A breach of Sweden’s obligations under international refugee and human rights law
-
A serious humanitarian failure that would knowingly place this family in grave and foreseeable danger, contradicting Sweden’s long‑standing commitment to protecting individuals at risk of persecution
The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to engage in systematic and severe violations of human rights, including political repression, arbitrary detention, and torture. Returning this family to such conditions would place them in direct, immediate, and predictable danger.
We therefore call upon the Government of Sweden to immediately halt the deportation, reassess the case on humanitarian and protection grounds, and uphold Sweden’s international commitments.
We also urge international human rights organisations, media outlets, and civil society actors to raise awareness of this case and support efforts to prevent the forced return of this family to Iran.
Yours faithfully,
Dashty Jamal
General Secretary of International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR

Subject: Formal Appeal to Immediately Halt the Deportation of Zahra Kazemipour and Her Family
Date:23/12/2025
We, the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR), hereby submit this formal and urgent appeal regarding the imminent deportation of Ms. Zahra Kazemipour, her husband Mr. Afshad Joubeh, and their two children. We respectfully request that the Government of Sweden immediately suspend and reconsider the deportation order issued against this family.
Ms. Kazemipour and her family sought asylum in Sweden nine years ago after fleeing persecution in Iran. Although their asylum application was rejected four years ago, they were subsequently granted the right to remain and work under the former legal provision that allowed a transition from asylum grounds to employment‑based residence. During this period, they have been continuously employed at Södertälje Hospital, contributing significantly to Swedish public services and to the wider community.
Recent legislative changes have annulled the legal basis under which this family and many others in comparable circumstances were previously granted residence and work permits. As a direct consequence, they now face the immediate threat of deportation.
We wish to underscore that Mr. Joubeh was previously arrested and imprisoned by the Islamic Republic of Iran. His forced return would expose him to a substantial, well documented, and immediate risk of persecution, arbitrary detention, or severe ill treatment. Furthermore, the couple’s two children, who have spent the entirety of their formative years in Sweden, would suffer profound psychological and emotional harm if uprooted and returned to a country they do not know.
Proceeding with this deportation would constitute:
-
A clear violation of fundamental human rights principles, exposing this family to persecution and serious harm in a country where their safety cannot be guaranteed
-
A breach of Sweden’s obligations under international refugee and human rights law
-
A serious humanitarian failure that would knowingly place this family in grave and foreseeable danger, contradicting Sweden’s long‑standing commitment to protecting individuals at risk of persecution
The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to engage in systematic and severe violations of human rights, including political repression, arbitrary detention, and torture. Returning this family to such conditions would place them in direct, immediate, and predictable danger.
We therefore call upon the Government of Sweden to immediately halt the deportation, reassess the case on humanitarian and protection grounds, and uphold Sweden’s international commitments.
We also urge international human rights organisations, media outlets, and civil society actors to raise awareness of this case and support efforts to prevent the forced return of this family to Iran.
Yours faithfully,
Dashty Jamal
General Secretary of International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR
—
Dashty Jamal
Secretary
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees-IFIR
Tel:07856032991 Fax:08712664391
Urgent Appeal for the Suspension of Forced Removals from the UK to Iraq
by ifir web
written by ifir web
To: Refugee Rights Organizations, Human Rights Institutions, and International Advocacy Bodies The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) issues this urgent appeal regarding the imminent deportation of Iraqi Kurdish refugees currently held in UK detention centers. Many of these individuals have resided in the UK for over two decades, establishing deep-rooted lives, raising families, and contributing to their communities.
We strongly condemn the recent bilateral agreement between the United Kingdom and the Government of Iraq, which facilitates forced returns. We contend that these actions constitute a clear violation of international law and binding human rights treaties, specifically:
The 1951 Refugee Convention: Violating the principle of non-refoulement by returning individuals to environments where they face credible threats of harm.
The ECHR (Article 3): Risking the exposure of individuals to torture or inhuman and degrading treatment.
The ECHR (Article 8): Systematically dismantling family units and violating the right to private life.
Iraq remains a landscape defined by political instability and security threats. Deporting long-term residents who lack support networks in Iraq is not only a breach of legal duty but a profound humanitarian failure.
Our Demands:
– Immediate Annulment: We call for the cancellation of all agreements facilitating forced deportations to Iraq.
– Political Pressure: We urge Iraqi and Kurdish regional authorities to reject these agreements and refuse to accept forced returnees.
– Civil Society Mobilization: We call upon UK trade unions and human rights groups to publicly oppose these inhumane policies.
– Protection is a legal obligation, not a political choice. We urge you to act now to uphold the principles of human dignity.
International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR)
Newer Posts