SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iranian Kurdish refugees living in the Kurdistan Region protested outside the United Nations headquarters in Erbil on Thursday, calling for security and protection of their rights.
Dozens of Iranian Kurdish asylum seekers gathered outside the headquarters of the U.N. refugee agency in Erbil in protest of economic and living conditions and to support to another refugee who set himself on fire this week.
The refugee, who was named as Behzad Mahmoudi, set himself on fire in front of UNHCR office in Erbil on Tuesday as he and another asylum seeker held a protest demanding better living for Iranian Kurdish refugees in the Region.
Many of the refugees live in camps in the Kurdistan Region and have a difficult time obtaining residency and stable work.
A protester told Esta Media Network that some of the refugees had been living in the Kurdistan Region for over 25 years, calling on the United Nations to send them to another country if it cannot help them in the Region.
“Aid was given to Arabs and other people in Ramadan, but Rojhalati Kurds wasn’t helped,” the protester said, referring to Iranian Kurds.
“We aren’t employed. We aren’t respected. They give us a residency card for one year. If it is expired for one day, we will be fined,” he added. “Help poor people! There are people who don’t have any work. Employ your Kurdish brothers as you do so for the foreigners.”
Another protester called on the United Nations to protect their rights and security.
“We don’t have any security. The government doesn’t support us,” she told Esta Media Network during the demonstrations.
“We call on the United Nations to protect our rights and security,” she said.
