The Least We Can Now Do: an Iraqi Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief today issued a call for the establishment of an Iraqi Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme via the following statement:
Since the Chilcot report, there is a renewed sense of dismay and anger in Iraq for all of those who have lost their lives since 2003. While the current reflection on Iraq is important, it does not make an impact on the ongoing dire situation in the country. There remain many Yazidis, Shias, Syriac Catholics, Protestants, Sabean-Mandaeans, Sunnis as well as many others who continue to be targeted by IS/Daesh on the basis of their identity. Around 3.3 million have been displaced due to the instability in Iraq.
Many minority groups are now on the verge of disappearance. In June, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria determined that IS/Daesh has committed genocide against the Yazidis. Around 90% of Yazidis are Iraqi.
Despite this evidence, the ‘Gateway’, ‘Children at Risk’ and ‘Mandate’ resettlement schemes which are not nationality specific, have only taken a very low number of Iraqis (up to 300 in 2015). While some Iraqis may fit all of the criteria under the current ‘Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (SVPRS)’, they are not eligible for asylum in the UK because they are not Syrian nationals.
We call for a modest expansion of the SVPRS, an ‘Iraqi Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme’, which permits Iraqis who fit the SVPRS vulnerability criteria to qualify for asylum in the UK. A modest expansion is particularly pertinent because Iraqis have suffered equally as much as their Syrian counterparts at the hands of IS/Daesh and the death toll in Iraq continues to rise.
The UK cannot absolve itself now from assisting Iraqis. Making Iraqis eligible for resettlement in the UK, with the UNHCR’s recommendation, is the least we can do.
Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the APPG for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, said in the Commons debate on the Chilcot Report, 14 July:
The Iraqi vulnerable persons resettlement scheme was set up after the war, but it has not delivered the capacity that it should have. The current reflections on Iraq are important, but they will have no impact on the ongoing dire situation in that country. The right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) made the point yesterday—I shall make it again today—that many Yazidis, Shi’as, Syriac Catholics, Protestants, Sabean-Mandaeans and Sunnis, as well as many others, continue to be targeted by Daesh on the basis of their identity. Around 3.3 million have been displaced due to the instability in Iraq, and many minority groups are on the verge of disappearance.
In June, the United Nations independent international commission of inquiry on Syria determined that Daesh had committed genocide against the Yazidis. Around 90% of Yazidis are Iraqi. Despite this evidence, the Gateway, Children at Risk and Mandate resettlement schemes, which are not nationality-specific, have taken in only a very low number of Iraqis—up to 300 in 2015. While some Iraqis might fit all the criteria under the current Syrian vulnerable persons resettlement scheme, they are not eligible for asylum in the UK because they are not Syrian nationals.
I want to call for a modest expansion of the SVPRS and the Iraqi vulnerable persons resettlement scheme to permit Iraqis who fit the SVPRS vulnerability criteria to qualify for asylum in the UK. A modest expansion is particularly pertinent, because Iraqis have suffered as much as their Syrian counterparts at the hands of Daesh, and the death toll in Iraq continues to rise. The UK cannot absolve itself from assisting Iraqis, and making them eligible for resettlement in the UK, with the UNHCR’s recommendation, is the least we can do.