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Refugees International Advocates with Danish Government for Asylum for Mandaeans from Iraq

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06/21/2004

Based on the current conditions in Iraq, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has requested that Iraqis should not be encouraged or forced to return there. Religious minorities are at particular risk of facing persecution if returned to Iraq. Mandaeans, a religious minority from the Middle East that follows the teachings of John the Baptist, having failed to be granted asylum in Denmark, are now threatened with forced repatriation. Refugees International President Ken Bacon has written to the Danish Minister for Refugee Affairs asking the government to respect international humanitarian and human rights law and refrain from returning individuals to a place where their very lives could be in danger. The RI letter follows:

European nations, including Denmark, have a great history of protecting refugees. At Refugees International we are deeply concerned about the potential impact of threats to return Mandaean asylum seekers to Iraq, and urge your government to comply with international law and ensure that any returns are fully voluntary.

After centuries of persecution and discrimination, only 60,000 Mandaeans remain in the world. Political changes in Iraq and Iran have intensified their hardship. Some Muslims are pursing an Islamic state in Iraq more ardently than before, and this is subjecting religious minorities within the country to intensified persecution. Mandaeans face religious, economic, and social hardship. They lack access to adequate nutrition, education, and medical care. Most importantly, they lack protection.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has issued a general call on governments to extend a deportation moratorium on forcible return of rejected Iraqi asylum seekers. A recent report by Amnesty International Australia documented situations of grave danger and death specifically faced by the Mandaean community.
Governments have the right to safeguard security and to protect their borders, but they must do so in conformity with their human rights obligations. Forced return can never be justified legally or morally, and the responsibility for safeguarding the rights of refugees remains with states. Each state must ensure adequate investigation of the applicant’s claim for asylum and a full and thorough determination of refugee status to safeguard a refugee against refoulement. It is also important to have a full understanding of the current conditions an individual would face in the proposed country of return. The Mandaean community in Denmark clearly qualifies for special protection measures given the conditions currently prevailing in Iraq.

As a global leader, Denmark must serve as an example for other countries in respecting international laws and responding to individuals in need of international protection. As you strive to address migration issues in Denmark, Refugees International urges you to ensure your borders are not closed in the face of those who genuinely seek asylum in your country or whose lives would be at risk on return to their country of origin.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Kenneth H. Bacon
President