Press Release
Press Release
14 March 2008
More than 1400 Iraqi asylum seekers will face a choice between being sent home and destitution
in Britain, a leaked Home Office memo revealed.
The threatened Iraqis are to be told that unless they sign up for a voluntary return programme to
Iraq within three weeks, they face being made homeless and destitute. They will also be asked to
sign a waiver agreeing the government will take no responsibility for what happens to them or their
families once they return to Iraqi territory.
"Iraqi refugees are people who have survived the most terrible experience, fleeing from war,
sectarian cleansing and terror. Some of them witnessed their relatives being murdered." Said
Jabbar Hasan of Iraqi Association in London.
At the Iraqi Association, we are now seeing hundreds of people every month, who come to our
west London offices seeking help and support.
"Today in Britain, thousands of these traumatised people face a life of severe hardship." Said
Jabbar Hasan.
"Central and south Iraq is not safe." said Jabbar Hasan. Even the UNHCR said its policy was that
returns of asylum seekers to central and southern Iraq and for some categories to the north of the
country were not advisable because of the continuing conflict.
Only yesterday we have heard from Mosul city that a Chaldean Catholic archbishop kidnapped in
northern Iraq last month was murdered. The body of Paulos Faraj Rahho was discovered near the
northern city of Mosul. We strongly condemn this outrages and heinous crime.
For more information please contact Jabbar Hasan on 020 8741 5491
Email: info@iraqiassociation.org
Notes to editors:
- Iraqi Association is a non-sectarian organisation, every year we help more than 6000 people.
- While women and children are the main victims of the war in Iraq, we operate IraqChild appeal, helping
vulnerable children in Iraq, those who have been affected by war and violence. You can donate online
using our secure Website www.iraqiassociation.org
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