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28 June 2005
press release
compiled by Iranian Kurdish Refugees' Committee in Turkey
Iranian Kurdish Refugees' Committee gravely concern about prospective of
kurdish refugees in Turkey what looms fatally
The over thousand Iranian Kurds who are being targeted have all previously
resided in Iraq, most of them for many years. They are all recognized as
political refugees by the UNHCR. When they came to Turkey in 2001-2002, most
were already destitute due to years of living as refugees. They fled Iraq
because they were under security threats there and resettlement, UNHCR.s
principal instrument of protection for Iranians in this unstable and
dangerous region, had long since come to a stand-still. Since their arrival
in Turkey, they have not been properly assisted and protected by the
government nor by the UNHCR. Moreover both organs have subjected them to
collective punishment measures. Implementing a peremptory .irregular mover.
policy, UNHCR, the agency mandated to protect and treat refugees humanely,
has denied the group all possible protection and assistance for some or all
of their stay. This includes refusal to register them, provide them with
financial and medical support, resettle them in third countries, and even
intervene on their behalf when they have been refouled to Iran by the
Turkish police, the gravest possible breach of international refugee law.
Except for two windows in 1995-1996 and 2000, UNHCR has been implementing
its "irregular mover" policy in Turkey since 1992.
During this period, the Turkish government has closely shadowed UNHCR
policy, denying temporary residence permits to refugees and even
systematically deporting them whenever UNHCR has labeled them "irregular
movers" and refused them resettlement assistance. The Turkish government
has, however, granted refugees temporary stay whenever UNHCR has agreed to
resettle them. As a result, in the last three years, these refugees have
been regarded as .illegal immigrants. and threatened with refoulement every
day.
Before the March 2003 US-UK war began in Iraq, UNHCR was issuing formal
"irregular mover" decisions to these refugees and endorsing their
deportation to Iraq. But since then UNHCR has ceased this and since the
overthrow of Saddam.s regime in Iraq, it has officially recommended that all
states, including Turkey, maintain a ban on the forced return of any person
to Iraq. But then, on August 30, 2003, Turkish police in Van randomly
arrested nineteen of the refugees and refouled them to Iran in a matter of
hours. In November 2003, fifty-three more of the refugees were detained for
a week by the police in Van and threatened with deportation. As reported,
the same month, UNHCR and the government finally began .consultations. to
find a "solution" for the refugees. The exact details of these talks are
still kept under wraps. But in December 2003, UNHCR finally granted all more
than thousand members of this refugee group refugees formal refugee status
papers. Four months later, in April 2004, the Turkish Ministry of Interior
gave refugees permission to relocate to about dozen provincial towns in
central Anatolia and to apply for residence permits. But once refugees
approached the local police in their new designated provincial towns, they
were confronted with exorbitant fees in order to receive their residence
permits. There, they also found out that their status was "yabanci"
[foreigner] and not "siginmaci" [asylum-seeker]. Until then, they were
unaware that, by not being a .siginmaci. they were also excluded from the
fundamental protection against refoulement.
An April 12, 2004 Ministry of Interior documentation [see Appendix I]
communicated by local police to each adult refugee expressly listed what
they were NOT entitled to [emphasis added]:
a.. They shall NOT be considered as alien or refugee whose asylum claim is
under consideration.
b.. They shall NOT be entitled to health benefits, provided to refugees or
asylum-seekers.
c.. The proceedings for their resettlement in a third country shall NOT be
carried out.
d.. They shall be expelled from the country should they engage in unlawful
acts.
e.. They or their family members shall NOT be protected from expulsion
whether or not they are registered with UNHCR.
f.. Legal fees shall be required of them under the Law of Legal Fees
No.492, half value shall be taken for those under the age of 18, retroactive
fees shall not be taken for the past periods, but according to Law of
Valuable Papers No.210, the cost for the permit shall be taken.
g.. According to the written warnings inside the Residence Permit, any
changes in address and marital status and any traveling away from the
province shall be notified rapidly to security offices.
h.. The granting of residence permits in Turkey is the result of our
country.s good intention towards them. In this context, in the period
residing in our country, they shall NOT possess attitudes and commit acts
against public order, public health, public morality and national security.
i.. In case they do not obey the aforementioned, their residence permits
shall NOT be extended and shall be revoked even if they have valid time left
in them and they shall BE EXPELLED AS ALIENS ILLEGALLY STAYING in our
country.
Many of the refugees still do not know the fundamental entitlements that
they have been excluded from because they do not know the Turkish language
and the document has not been translated to them. Nor has UNHCR explained to
them the hazards of this dodgy residence permit, much less the reasons
behind it.
UNHCR branch of Turkey accepted this group as Refugee at 2004 and
subsequently facilitated them to transfer to Anadolian cities.
At first was deemed that this changes go forward and pave resettlement, but
unluckily all of these hopes, wasted our breath.
Hither to we have had gatherings opposite UNHCR’s gate in Ankara to attract
International attention to our critical situation but unfortunately UN in
collusion with police raided the gatherings and delivered them to Court, for
instance, 25 refugees from this group delivered to Court in Aksaray – 200 km
from capital—because they participated in the complaints.
Furthermore they have to refer to police station for their daily signature
and police should check them up every day and refugees haven’t permit to
earn money for their life or working, however UN refused them as financial
assistance.
Last week when one of refugee in Kaiseri couldn’t present at on time to
introduce himself to police station; police arrested him and wildly raided
and mugged him.
the International Community mandate UNHCR to find durable solution for
refugees: voluntarily repatriation, local integration and resettlement are
ways which UN follows them due to circumstances. It is patently obvious that
the first and second ones are impossible for us; therefore the only way what
is reasonable and ahead of us, tabloid in resettlement.
However this 1200 Iranian Kurdish Political refugees had many times sit-in
and strikes against UNHCR's decision for removal prejudice and reach to
their rights via resettlement in Van opposite of UNHCR's gate, but because
of interference and raiding of Turkish authorities the gathering broke up or
menaced to deport enforced.
The discrimination policies of UNHCR in Turkey and their illegally action
about this group breach of basic refugee's rights what approved in
Convention and Protocol. These refugees who struggled against autocracy and
tyranny for establishing a democratic society; have been deliberately
neglected by UNHCR Office in Ankara. Separately, other groups – Iranian or
others – have been welcomed by UNHCR and their affairs arranged in short
time. Especially when asylum seekers who depended on Iranian so-called
Reformist Wing referred to the Office, UNHCR summarily accept them and
deliver their dossier to third country for resettlement.
Iranian ex-Northern Iraqi Refugees; in conclusion of UNHCR's cruel policies
practically have been stamped out all their rights and premeditate thrown to
Nadir condition and deadlock situation for 4 years.
These oppressed 1200 refugees need and ask European Union Patriotic,
Progressive, Liberal, and Philanthropist Organizations, Correspondents,
Journalists, and Human Rights Sources to defend and support them and pres
UNHCR branch of Turkey and general Office in Geneva to:
· Put an end to 4 years suspending of this Iranian Kurdish Political
Refugees and in respect of this group's destiny, UNHCR conduct its
activities with maximum transparency and impartiality and keep International
Community fully informed about the situation of this Iranian Refugees;
without prejudice from other nationalities.
· 2. Hold UNHCR accountable for its instrumental role in protecting
and finding permanent solution for this vulnerable group via resettlement as
outlined above, and remove its obstacle against this community.
· 3. Urge the Turkish government to respect its responsibilities and
obligations toward these refugees and to cooperate with other government in
finding durable solution for them.
Please send your letters to:
Minister of the Interior
Representative
Mr. Abdulkadir Aksu Ms. Gesche
Karrenbrock
Ministry of Interior UNHCR –
Turkey
I?isleri Bakanligi 12
Cadessi 212 Sokak No: 3
06644 Ankara, TURKEY Sancak Mah. 06550
Ankara, Turkey
Fax: 90-312-418-1795 Fax:
90-312-441-2376
very thanks for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely Yours:
Iranian Kurdish Refugees' Committee in Turkey
Sources:
1. Iranian Refugees' Alliance,INC Publication
2. Iranian Kurdish Refugees' Committee Notification on 6 June 2005
3. Iranian ex-Northern Iraqi Refugees have remained in Limbo without any
clear horizon for 4 years in Turkey, written by Sardar Rahimi on February
2005
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