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The idea of forming a coalition to stop
forced deportation of Iraqi and Kurdish
asylum seekers was warmly welcomed and
supported by MPs and humanitarian
organisations at a public meeting organised
by the International Federation of Iraqi
Refugees in the Houses of Parliament on
Wednesday 11 January 2006.
The meeting was hosted and chaired by John
McDonnell (first hour) and Jeremy Corbyn
(second hour). In his opening speech John
McDonnell MP thanked the organisers and
participants for attending the meeting and
described the unlawful and degrading policy
of forcibly deporting 15 asylum seekers to a
war zone as barbaric.
The other main speakers were Dashty Jamal
(International Federation of Iraqi
Refugees), Jeremy Corbyn, MP and an active
member of the anti-war movement, Margaret
Wright (Green Party), Emma Ginn (NCADC),
Sawsan Salim ( Organisation of Kurdish
Women-Britain), George Binette (Committee to
Defend Asylum Seekers), David Morgan, (CAMPACC),
Burhan Fatah (Federation Of Iraqi Refugees -
Manchester), Doug Holton
(Campaign to Stop Deportation of Children).
Dashty Jamal representing International
Federation of Iraqi refugees talked about
the recent war on Iraq and Iraqis’ situation
under its new religious, tribal and
nationalistic forces with the support of the
USA enabling those forces to change Iraqi
society for the worse and even destroy it.
He also described the instability,
kidnapping, suicide bombing, oppression and
disrespect for human rights etc, all of
which has been supported by the USA.
Then he talked about the cruelty of asylum
laws and their effect on asylum seekers, and
the immense pressure put on them by taking
all support away from them and forcing them
to sign up for “Voluntary Return”. He also
urged every one to support and form an
Anti-Deportation Coalition to stop the Home
Office from deporting Iraqi Kurds and Iraqis
to a war zone.
Sawsan Salem, Jeremy Corbyn, Margaret
Wright, Emma Ginn, George Binette, Burhan
Fatah and Doug Holton spoke about the
importance of campaigning and unity. Some
questioned the Iraqi community’s unity and
related it to the lack of communication and
understanding between themselves and the
outside world that there sometimes is. Calls
were made for the Iraqis to do more visible
campaigning and to join already existing
mixed communities of resistance which often
campaign successfully to stop deportations.
A graphic account was given of the Home
Office’s lack of willingness to act on
information about honour crimes in Kurdistan
when considering asylum applications from
women. The overall bad treatment of Iraqis
was also identified as part of deliberate
government policy of forcing asylum seekers
to work in the black economy.
Amongst points made from the floor were:
that the Iraqis desperation about attempts
to force them to sign voluntary return
letters in return for continued support and
accommodation is very clear to advice
workers, that any forced returns to
Kurdistan should also be opposed, and that
it is hoped to launch a migrants’ and
refugees’ charter in the near future.
All the platform speakers agreed principally
on forming a coalition and showed their
support for the International Federation.
Jeremy Corbyn summed up the mood of the
meeting as “No deportations to Iraq – full
stop!”
Dashty Jamal
International Federation of Iraqi
Refugees
For further
information contact
:Dashty Jamal
d.jamal@ntlworld.com Tel:/ 077347 04742
or
Sarah Parker on 0208 809 0633,
email:sarahp107@hotmail.com
,Manchster:
Burhan Fatah
burhanfatah@aol.com
Tel:/ 07866757213
Office Tell/ 0161
234 2784,Nottingham: Jasim Ghafur
jasm_rg@yahoo.co.uk Tel:/ 07739338178 |