18 September 2024 – The International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ) expresses profound concern and vehemently condemns the recent actions against Iranian Kurdish parties, groups, and refugees in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Based on reliable information from Kurdish parties, at the behest of the Iranian regime, these groups and their families have been forcibly displaced from their residences of the past 35 years to a camp known as “Surdash,” which lacks basic living facilities .
The newly designated camp is alarmingly remote, devoid of essential amenities such as water, and basic amenities, making it exceedingly challenging and unsafe for its inhabitants, particularly vulnerable groups including pregnant women, young children, and the elderly. These individuals now face the dire necessity of traveling for hours to access basic needs, compounding their vulnerability and exposure to security risks.
This coercive relocation coincides with the second anniversary of the 2022 uprising in Iran and the visit of the new president of the regime Masoud Pezeshkian to Iraq, underscoring an attempt by the regime to project an image of power a troubling indication that the Iraqi government is succumbing to the dictates of the mullahs’ regime.
Furthermore, in a grievous violation of human rights, an Iranian asylum seeker, Behzad Khosravi, was recently extradited from Sulaimaniyah in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to the Iranian regime, exemplifying the extreme risks faced by Iranian refugees in the region .
The ISJ strongly condemns these acts of pressure and harassment as clear violations of international laws and conventions. We urgently call upon the United Nations, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and all relevant human rights organizations to intervene. It is imperative that these bodies act swiftly to halt the oppressive displacement, safeguard the rights of Iranian refugees in accordance with international conventions, and provide immediate aid and security to the displaced individuals .
We also urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to resist the pressures from the clerical regime and the Iraqi government, to uphold the rights of Iranian Kurds residing in Iraq as refugees, and to bring any threats by the Iranian regime concerning this matter to the attention of the United Nations Security Council.
The silence and inaction of the international community, and any acquiescence to the demands of the terrorist dictatorship ruling Iran, only serve to embolden this religious dictatorship. It is critical now more than ever that the global community stands firm in defense of human rights and dignity against such blatant transgressions.