Iraq denounces death of refugee child in Belgium police chase
Refugees from Mosul.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq has denounced the death of an Iraqi child refugee by Belgian police fire last week, urging appropriate treatment of displaced Iraqis and respect for human rights.
Iraqi Migration and Displacement Minister, Jassem al-Jaff, said in a statement on Wednesday it was necessary to “hold accountable those behind that tragic incident”.
The minister urged international agencies to preserve the safety of Iraqi refugees and ensure good treatment for them.
Last Thursday, Belgian media reported that an Iraqi child, a member of a refugee family, was killed when Belgium police was chasing a van laden with refugees west of the country. Belgium’s interior ministry expressed regret for the incident, announcing an investigation.
Iraq’s war against Islamic State militants since 2014 has displaced millions both inside and outside the country. Though Iraqi authorities reiterate they are in efforts to repatriate all domestically displaced citizens, they occasionally urge world countries not to forcibly deport Iraqi refugees on their soil.