An appeal by the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees 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 centres. 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.For more information about the International Federation of Iraqi Refugees, see  https://www.federationifir.com/en/