Thursday, March 28, 2024

Baghdad

Rights commission demands release of Iraqi migrants held by Australia

 Rights commission demands release of Iraqi migrants held by Australia

Immigrants waiting for their registration in Berlin .Archival photo.

Immigrants waiting for their registration in Berlin .Archival photo.

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s human rights body has demanded the release of 50 Iraqi migrants held at a detention center after being denied asylum in Australia.

The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights said Thursday the Iraqi foreign minister is required to “take urgent measures for the release of 50 Iraqi refugees held by Australian authorities at Manus Island.

Commission spokesman Ali al-Bayati said in press statements that “the Iraqi embassy in Canberra had unveiled that Australian authorities are holding 50 Iraqi refugees in Manus Island in difficult humanitarian conditions to oblige them to return to Iraq.

There are nearly 600 men, mostly from the Middle East and Southeast Asia, who were sent to Manus Island by Australia as part of an Australian program to move away rejected migrants. The island is located in neighboring Papua New Guinea a former Australian colony.

Australia argues it has no responsibility for the migrants’ conditions since they are not held on an Australian soil. United Nations officials argue for the opposite.

Papua New Guinea authorities have also recently vowed to use force to remove the migrants at the island after they protested their poor conditions.

War-ravaged Iraq has repeatedly called upon world countries sought by refugees not to deport migrants against their will.

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