Inquiries made today (Monday 23 December), to the Iraqi embassy in Canberra by the Refugee Action Coalition have confirmed that Iraq will not issue travel documents for, or accept asylum seekers who, are forcibly removed from Australia.
Faisal, an Iraqi asylum seeker presently in Villawood detention centre was already on board a plane to Baghdad on Tuesday 17 December when a court injunction ordered a halt to his removal.
A final judgement on the injunction is due on Tuesday 24 December.
“There were always doubts about what documents the Immigration Department could be using to remove Faisal. It was widely known that the Iraq government did not accept forced returns of asylum seekers,” said Ian Rintoul on behalf of the Refugee Action Coalition, “The information from the Iraq embassy makes it likely that the Immigration Department has only obtained a travel document by deliberately hiding the fact that Faisal was to be forcibly removed.”
“Faisal does not have an Iraqi passport and has never been asked to apply for, or sign for an Iraqi travel document. He has never sighted the travel document that the government intends to use,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refuge Action Coalition.
“Faisal has not had proper court representation. But not only is the Minister willing to give legitimacy to a shonky migration agent, there are also now serious doubts about the bona fides of travel documents that the Immigration Department intends to use to removal Faisal.
“The Minister has to come clean on how the travel documents have been obtained. Any officers found to have acted inappropriately to obtain travel documents for Faisal should be dismissed.
“It is now imperative that the Minister acts immediately to stop Faisal’s removal. It was always dangerous to send Faisal back to Iraq. His brother has already been killed. Dodgy documents makes his removal an even greater travesty and would make it even harder for Faisal to survive.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
