We Can't Turn Them Away

We've seen many times throughout history that collaborators with an occupying power are never popular with their own people. When the occupiers finally leave, collaborators are often in danger. Iraq will be no different when the current occupation ends - as it inevitably will. Now, one can argue that collaborators deserve what they get but is that really the case? In Iraq, working for the occupation forces is often the only available employment as the infrastructure of the country has been utterly destroyed. The people who work for the various remaining coalition armies as translators etc. aren't responsible for the invasion and subsequent catastrophe in Iraq, and their families even less so. And yet, as the coalition shrinks, these people will be abandoned by the 'liberators' and their lives and those of their families will be in serious danger as various factions strive for power and seek revenge. This is happening already as death squads hunt down translators for coalition partners.

It seems only right that the countries that invaded Iraq should look after the people who helped them. But it is by no means certain that this will happen. It is possible that Britain, if it does anything at all, will decide to dump some of them in Syria or Jordan which are both overburdened with refugees from Iraq. Denmark recently led the way by airlifting 200 translators and other Iraqis working for them along with their relatives and is excpected to offer them asylum in Denmark. Britain should do the same and in order to try and help ensure that Britain does do the right thing for once, I'm joining the growing campaign, started at Dan Hardie's blog, to ask the Government to follow Denmark's example. The campaign is called "We Can't Turn Them Away". All we need to do is spread the word by blogging on this topic or by writing to newspapers and also writing to our MPs asking them what they intend to do about this problem. If enough pressure can be exerted on our politicians then perhaps we can get them to do the right thing for once. This campaign already has the support of the following bloggers:

• Dan Hardie
• Rachel North
• Blairwatch
• Chicken Yoghurt
• Tim Worstall
• Crooked Timber
• A Big Stick And A Small Carrot
• Obsolete
• Mr Eugenides
• Europhobia
• Harry's Place
• Bloggerheads
• L'Ombre de l'Olivier
• The Lone Voice
• Unqualified Offerings
• Misspelt Youth
• Ministry of Truth
• Pickled Politics
• Beau Bo D'Or
  

I'll add more links as I find them. I have created a petition on the Downing Street website which has now been approved. Please sign it and link to it if you can. Oh, and there is now a Facebook group you can join.

*UPDATE*

My Letter to my MP (using Write To Them.com)

Dear David Lammy,

I am writing to ask you if you could help press the Government about the treatment of Iraqi citizens who have worked for the UK Armed Forces, the Coalition Provisional Authority, and contractors working for both organisations in the South of Iraq. As our presence in Iraq is reduced, these workers are in increasing danger from numerous death squads which are hunting them down. I believe that these people deserve the right to indefinite asylum in the United Kingdom and I was wondering if you felt the same. These Iraqis have put their lives at risk by supporting our armed forces who were sent to war by a vote in Parliament.

Whatever our positions on the decision to go to war was, those Iraqis who worked for the coalition deserve our support as do the British soldiers themselves. These employees suffer a greater degree of risk than the armed forces as they have to live among their fellow Iraqis who, in some cases, may be sympathetic or even belong to militias opposing the British presence. We have a moral duty to ensure as best we can the well-being of these employees and I believe it would be dishonourable to abandon them to the very real risk of being murdered for the ‘crime’ of helping our service men and women.

Offering these brave people and their families (who are also at grave risk from various armed groups) the right to remain in the UK indefinitely would be the most effective way to ensure their safety. Because the situation in Basra is deteriorating, the normal, lengthly process for applying for asylum is, I believe, inappropriate. British soldiers will find it increasingly difficult to protect these people who risk being murdered for their co-operation with our military - indeed, it's already happening. Iraqis who worked for British forces should not be told to leave Iraq and throw themselves on the mercy of United Nations relief agencies in Arab countries: these agencies are already being overwhelmed by the outflow of Iraqi refugees, and Iraqi refugees who have worked for British diplomats or troops may well be targeted by local jihadists. Britain would be shamed if any more Iraqis were murdered for the ‘crime’ of having supported UK forces. Whether the bulk of our forces are to be withdrawn soon or whether they are to stay longer, the danger for Iraqi citizens employed by the military remains serious. I think it would be morally unacceptable for Britain to abandon people who are at risk because they worked for British soldiers and diplomats.

The Danish army recently airlifted 200 Iraqi translators and other workers employed by them out of Iraq and it is being reported that they and their relatives are to be offered asylum in Denmark. I believe we should follow this example.

I would appreciate your views on this matter and any help you can give to raise this issue with the Government. Thank you for your time.

Yours sincerely,

Davide Simonetti

I'll let you know what response I get when it comes.

Tags: Middle East, We Can't Turn Them Away, Iraq, UK Armed Forces, Asylum, Refugees, Iraqi Translators,UK Politics