January 12, 2012

The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London is extremely concerned over the constant attacks against Palestinian Refugees in Iraq. The centre calls for an immediate protection for those refugees through the intervention of International humanitarian organizations in Iraq and worldwide.

The centre further calls on the Iraqi government to explain the incidents in which official Iraqi forces stormed the Al Baldiat Refugee compound in Baghdad. The forces attacked civilians, damaged properties and arrested a number of residents. They abused civilians, even threatening to kill some.

The new installed government should be extra careful not to regress back to the ways of the old regime. They should strive harder to defend the promises of democracy which they have been installed to uphold.

"We call on the Iraqi government to release the detainees who were arrested without any legal cover. They are, Zeyad ahmad Mustafa, Ali Ibrahim Muhamad, Udai Ahmad Ali, Anwar Othman, Shukri Firsan and Nasir Saleh Abu Jamal." Said PRC.

It is worth mentioning that over 30,000 Palestinian Refugees used to live in Iraq. Following the US lead invasion there ensued eight years of persecution, torture and death. Now only 300 remain. Most have fled across the borders and some have found temporary refuge in different parts of the world.