London, September 8, 2005 (KRG) – The Kurdistan Regional Government High Representative Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman this week met Tony McNulty, Britain’s Immigration Minister, to seek a rethink by the British government of its decision to forcibly return failed asylum seekers to Kurdistan.

Also present was Shanaz Rashid, UK representative of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan.

Ms Rahman explained that the KRG had consistently opposed the detention and forcible deportation of asylum seekers but welcomed those who wished to return voluntarily to their homeland.

She said the KRG understood that it was the UK’s worldwide policy to return failed asylum seekers, but Iraq was a special case since it had yet to recover from the war and, even in Kurdistan, where there is relative stability, resources are stretched and those returned by force would be vulnerable.

Ms Rahman also conveyed the anxiety and consternation felt by the Kurdish community in Britain and asked whether those in detention had access to lawyers.

Mr McNulty and officials from Britain’s interior ministry (the Home Office) and foreign ministry said that Britain was committed to its policy of returning those who had failed to receive asylum through all the channels open to them in the UK after considerable investigation and legal process.

They said the British government has already taken on board some of the KRG’s concerns and is in continuous dialogue with the Kurdistan government on this sensitive issue.

The officials said that those detained would have access to lawyers. Those who were forced to return would be given British financial assistance to ensure they could return to their home town or village once in Kurdistan. About 5,000 people fall into the category for enforced returns and currently almost 40 men are being held in detention.

The officials offered their assistance in dispelling the speculation that had caused deep anxiety among the Kurdish community in Britain by giving more information to the KRG Office in London and to the groups representing the Kurdish community in Britain.