SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) denied rumors on Thursday that it had reached agreements with the British government over the forced deportation of Kurdish asylum seekers living in Britain.
Kurdish activists say British police have detained dozens of asylum seekers living in the UK, many of whom have cases pending decisions, to deport them to Erbil.
The New Arab cited Kurdish lawmaker Arian Tawgozi as saying the detainees were scheduled to be deported to Erbil international airport by May 31.
In a statement, the KRG said it had received questions from Kurdish citizens living in Britain about their “forcible deportation” by the British government.
The Kurdish government stressed that it had made “no agreement” with the British government to deport the Kurdish asylum seekers living in Britain.
Regarding the prime minister’s visit to Britain, the KRG said Premier Masrour Barzani did not discuss the issue of “forcible deportation” with the British secretary of State for the Home Department during their meeting.
“Some people and parties want to play with and use people’s feeling for their own interests,” the KRG stated.
“We reject this rumor,” it said. “Priorities of bilateral relationship between the Kurdistan Region and the United Kingdom of Britain are not about the forcible deportation.”
