We call on all trade unions to join our campaign to stop deportations to Iraq! The UK government has arrested more than 30 Kurdish and Iraqi people since 1 April. This is all taking place at a time when Iraq is being plagued by war and violence, which is forcing so many to make the dangerous journey across the sea to Europe. The daily tragedy of the refugees on the borders of Europe is a direct consequence of the policy of closing borders to people whose homes have been turned into a battlefield of civil war, unrest and insecurity. The disaster facing refugees places a tremendous responsibility upon European governments. Whilst the UK and Europe talk about human rights they have provided no realistic solution to prevent the wave of refugees seeking safety in Europe.
19 May2017
On Tuesday 16th May Awat Ahmad, a kurdish asylum seeker, lost his life at his work place for unknown reasons. The place of his death is still closed and Awat’s body is being kept at St.George’s hospital in London.
Awat was 29 years old. According to his cousin, he came to the UK as a refugee in 2006 when he was under 18, and was granted temporary permission to stay. However, after he came of age his permission was not renewed and he remained in the country without official “leave to remain”.
Home Office is trying to deport dozens of refugees to Iraq, with at least 30 people currently held in detention centres awaiting forced removal. But instead of using high-profile charter flights, the Home Office is now turning to a handful of major airlines to take Iraqi deportees as scheduled passengers: Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways. Strong resistance by deportees and supporters may yet win out though, and several flights have been cancelled in the last week.
IFIR press release 05 May 2017
Iraqi Refugee assaulted on Turkish airline flight 4 May
Assan Yaba Assan from Mosul was not deported yesterday
Following IFIR’s appeal on the 5 May for people to call Turkish airlines demanding that they do not deport Assan. Assan’s 6 May deportation ticket was cancelled. IFIR would like to thank everyone who called Turkish airlines with special thanks to Corporate Watch and all organisations and individuals who published our appeal. However Assan is still held in Colnbrook Detention centre with many other Iraqi’s. Four of whom have been given Turkish airline tickets to be deported in May.
3May 2017
Qaranman Amin Iraqi Refugee from Kirkuk arrived in the UK 2003 (13 years) has been threatened with being forcibly deported tomorrow on Turkish air line flight .TK1972 from Heathrow TN2 at 18:00hrs.
Mr Amin told IFIR “I have a 22 Month Daughter who is being looked after by her mum in Peterborough”
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.