UN Refugee Agency Condemns Turkey For Forced Deportations of Iraqis
In a statement on July 26, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) condemned Turkey for forcibly repatriating 135 Iraqis earlier this week. The agency said that some of the Iraqis were in the process of applying for asylum in Turkey.
If true, it would be a clear violation of the principle of nonrefoulement, outlined in the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. Under the convention, no asylum seeker whose case has not yet been properly assessed can be forcibly returned to a country where their life or liberty may be at risk.
“In addition to seeking urgent clarification from Turkey on the events surrounding the deportation, and further information on the fate of the deportees, UNHCR has also sought assurances that in the future, persons in need of international protection will be treated in full respect of Turkey’s international and national legal obligations,” the statement said.
In December 18, 2006, the UNHCR issued an “advisory on the international protection needs of Iraqis outside Iraq,” which was shared with Turkey. The advisory recommended that Iraqis from southern or central Iraq, who have fled to other countries, not be deported until there are substantial improvements in the security and human-rights situation in Iraq.
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