"Iraqi refugees allege abuse by Britons" by Associated Press | June 19, 2010
GENEVA — The UN refugee agency said yesterday that it is investigating allegations by Iraqi asylum seekers that they were mistreated by British officials before being deported back to Iraq.
Fourteen failed asylum seekers told lawyers of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Baghdad that they were beaten by staff from the UK Border Agency in a London airport before being forced onto the plane to Iraq late Wednesday, said UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic.
“We’ve met with six of them and saw fresh bruises that indicated mistreatment could have occurred,’’ he said in Geneva.
The 14 were among 42 rejected Iraqi asylum seekers who were sent back forcibly to Baghdad, Mahecic said. He said the agency spoke to eight other deportees by telephone.
Just wondering where the immigration protesters are and why they are not hollering over this.
“All those interviewed reported that 42 deportees were forcibly returned to Baghdad against their will,’’ he said.
UNHCR has repeatedly told governments that they should not send asylum seekers to Baghdad and Iraq’s five central provinces because the area is not secure enough for their return, Mahecic said.
After we have been told for months that.... awww, never mind.
Isn't that the kind of thing they were seeking asylum from?
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