Death of ex-detainee 'Constructively deported' to Iraq
London Detainee Support Group/ press release | 07.09.2007 15:09 | Anti-racism | Iraq | Migration
We have had the very bad news that one of our ex-clients, Solyman
Rashed, has been killed by a car bomb in Kirkuk, after accepting
voluntary return. Our press release is below.
Rashed, has been killed by a car bomb in Kirkuk, after accepting
voluntary return. Our press release is below.
Message from London Detainee Support Group
Refused asylum seeker Solyman Rashed, 28, was killed by a car-bomb in
Kirkuk on Monday 6th September 2007, after being returned to Iraq two
weeks earlier. This tragic death highlights once again the dangers of
'Constructively' forcing asylum seekers to return to Iraq.
Solyman took 'voluntary return': a misnomer as he did not go of his
own free will. He had been in an immigration detention centre for 15
months, having been arrested when he was homeless and destitute. He
was refused bail around ten times. After his last bail application
was refused in July, he despaired of ever being released from
detention and agreed to return voluntarily.
Solyman travelled to Baghdad on the 15th August 2007, and travelled
on to Kirkuk, his home town. He lived for only 2 weeks in freedom,
before his life was ended by a road-side bomb.
Jerome Phelps of London Detainee Support Group said "Solyman told us
that he was desperate to leave detention, and was having nightmares
about dying. He knew how dangerous the situation is in Iraq, but felt
that he was given no option other than to return."
LDSG call on the Home Office to follow UNHCR advice to halt forced
removals to Iraq until the security situation has improved. All Iraqi
detainees should be released, as indefinite detention should not be
used as a tool to force Iraqis to take voluntary return.
Forced removals to northern Iraq are due to recommence next week,
after a gap of over 6 months.
Refused asylum seeker Solyman Rashed, 28, was killed by a car-bomb in
Kirkuk on Monday 6th September 2007, after being returned to Iraq two
weeks earlier. This tragic death highlights once again the dangers of
'Constructively' forcing asylum seekers to return to Iraq.
Solyman took 'voluntary return': a misnomer as he did not go of his
own free will. He had been in an immigration detention centre for 15
months, having been arrested when he was homeless and destitute. He
was refused bail around ten times. After his last bail application
was refused in July, he despaired of ever being released from
detention and agreed to return voluntarily.
Solyman travelled to Baghdad on the 15th August 2007, and travelled
on to Kirkuk, his home town. He lived for only 2 weeks in freedom,
before his life was ended by a road-side bomb.
Jerome Phelps of London Detainee Support Group said "Solyman told us
that he was desperate to leave detention, and was having nightmares
about dying. He knew how dangerous the situation is in Iraq, but felt
that he was given no option other than to return."
LDSG call on the Home Office to follow UNHCR advice to halt forced
removals to Iraq until the security situation has improved. All Iraqi
detainees should be released, as indefinite detention should not be
used as a tool to force Iraqis to take voluntary return.
Forced removals to northern Iraq are due to recommence next week,
after a gap of over 6 months.
London Detainee Support Group/ press release
Comments
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Northern Iraq
07.09.2007 21:51
According to the Kurdish leaders and the West, Northern Iraq has been classed as a "safe haven" since the early 1990's and this idea is upheld by many in the Labour Party who are closely aligned with Jalal Talabani and Massoud Barzani.
Inside of Kirkuk, the Kurdish parties have been carrying out acts of ethnic cleansing against Arabs, Turkomen and there have been racist attacks directed against Christians but the West and the Anti-War movement have remained silent on these matters.
There has also been several bombing campaigns by the Iranians and also action by Turkey, whose actions were carried out in response to Kurdish insurgents.
Iraqi