Iraqi minister advices exiles abroad not to return
azzaman: Many Iraqis living abroad opted to return home in the aftermath of the fall of former leader Saddam Hussein.
But most of them are now taking the opposite journey, returning once again to the foreign countries which sheltered form Saddam's oppression.
Meantime, Minister of Replacement and Migration Suhayla Abd-Jaafar has said conditions in the country were not safe for Iraqi refugees abroad to return.
Iraqi expatriates are disappointed with the course of events since the 2003-U.S.-led invasion.
They cite violence, insecurity, instability and unemployment as the main reasons for their decision to return to exile once again.
Some said they were targets of attacks by armed groups battling the U.S. occupation and the government.
Many members of these armed organizations were affiliated to Saddam's Baath party and they see the expatriates as enemies.
"I escaped the country 25 years ago fearing for our lives as we were communists. I decided to return when the former regime fell. But I had to return to exile because it was impossible for me to live in the country," said Qassem Khalifa.
Saddam Hussein was friendly to Iraqi communists in the early years of his Baathist rule. But he turned against them when he felt his position was secure.
“I left the country 20 years ago to protect my son from persecution. We lived in America for the whole period and decided to return home when Saddam was overthrown. But there was no security and we could not stay,” said Majeed Saadoun.
Mohammed Saleh, a dentist, left Canada for home after 18 years of exile.
"But I had to go back. True exile is hard but what can I do? I only returned to my exile when I felt that there was no hope at the end of the tunnel," said Saleh.
Human rights activists say Iraqis abroad were shocked and disappointed on their return home.
"The main reason compelling Iraqi expatriates to go into exile again is lack of security," said Mohammed al-Mawsawi, the head of Iraqi human rights organization, a non-governmental group.
Abd-Jaafar, the migration minister, said she would not encourage Iraqi refugees to return. Rather "I would advise the countries hosting them to grant them residency."
However, she said, her ministry has plans to help those returning home to get "reintegrated in the society". Link
But most of them are now taking the opposite journey, returning once again to the foreign countries which sheltered form Saddam's oppression.
Meantime, Minister of Replacement and Migration Suhayla Abd-Jaafar has said conditions in the country were not safe for Iraqi refugees abroad to return.
Iraqi expatriates are disappointed with the course of events since the 2003-U.S.-led invasion.
They cite violence, insecurity, instability and unemployment as the main reasons for their decision to return to exile once again.
Some said they were targets of attacks by armed groups battling the U.S. occupation and the government.
Many members of these armed organizations were affiliated to Saddam's Baath party and they see the expatriates as enemies.
"I escaped the country 25 years ago fearing for our lives as we were communists. I decided to return when the former regime fell. But I had to return to exile because it was impossible for me to live in the country," said Qassem Khalifa.
Saddam Hussein was friendly to Iraqi communists in the early years of his Baathist rule. But he turned against them when he felt his position was secure.
“I left the country 20 years ago to protect my son from persecution. We lived in America for the whole period and decided to return home when Saddam was overthrown. But there was no security and we could not stay,” said Majeed Saadoun.
Mohammed Saleh, a dentist, left Canada for home after 18 years of exile.
"But I had to go back. True exile is hard but what can I do? I only returned to my exile when I felt that there was no hope at the end of the tunnel," said Saleh.
Human rights activists say Iraqis abroad were shocked and disappointed on their return home.
"The main reason compelling Iraqi expatriates to go into exile again is lack of security," said Mohammed al-Mawsawi, the head of Iraqi human rights organization, a non-governmental group.
Abd-Jaafar, the migration minister, said she would not encourage Iraqi refugees to return. Rather "I would advise the countries hosting them to grant them residency."
However, she said, her ministry has plans to help those returning home to get "reintegrated in the society". Link
posted by exoplanet at 4:25 PM
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