London MEP condemns UK's treatment of seized Iraqi asylum seekers
27 March 2008
Jean Lambert MEP has slammed the Government's seizure of approximately 55Iraqi asylum seekers early this morning from detention centres in the UK.The detainees were removed from Campsfield and Colnbrook detention centresfollowing the Home Office's recent announcement to deport failed Iraqiasylum seekers.
It is unclear where the asylum seekers are now being held, but it isbelieved that they could be deported to Iraq via Brize Norton. Some of thoseabout to be deported are from Kirkuk and Mosul, where 55 people were killedand many more injured by a suicide bomb this week.
Jean Lambert, Green Party MEP for London, who has written to Jacqui Smithdemanding an end to the deportations, said:
"Iraq is not safe and it is outrageous that the UK government is forciblyreturning the asylum seekers who have come here for refuge. The Government'sdetermination to deport people is simply over-riding our commitments tohuman rights.
"The European Parliament has taken the view that no country should beforcibly returning people to Iraq and members of the Iraqi Parliament agreethat it could be dangerous and destabilising for the country.
"Around 2.5 million refugees have fled Iraq since the invasion in 2003 andthe majority are now living in Syria and Jordan. These countries are underimmense strain, yet the UK Government is refusing sanctuary to just severalhundred individuals."
The Government has also come under fire today from the Independent AsylumCommission which has published a report slamming the UK's asylum system as"marred by inhumanity" and "not fit for purpose".
Jean Lambert, who is a member of the Human Rights Committee in the EuropeanParliament, continued:
"This report has confirmed the worst. Cuts to legal aid announced earlierthis month, the unnecessary detention of children and the decision toforcibly return Iraqi asylum seekers all point to the UK Government chasingdeportation figures and before respecting the human rights of those in needof protection."
