Iraqi refugees protest against Finland's suspension of granting asylum

A group of Iraqi refugees staged a demonstration in the Finnish capital of Helsinki on Monday to protest against Finland's freezing granting asylum to Iraqi and Somali applicants.

Some 300 Iraqi asylum seekers issued an appeal to the Finnish government on Monday. Some representatives gave a press conference, at which they described Iraq, particularly the capital of Baghdad, as dangerous areas.

After the press conference, a number of the Iraqi asylum seekers held a protest in front of the building of the Finnish Parliament, located in downtown Helsinki.

Ahmed Shukr, one of the asylum seekers, told Finnish national broadcaster Yle that Baghdad is considered a battlefield, adding that the Iraqi government presents false information about the security situation in the country.

Late in September, the Finnish Immigration Service launched a review of its guidelines on asylum seekers from Iraq and Somalia and suspended processing the applications from Somalis and Iraqis.

Asylum seekers from, for example, Baghdad and surrounding regions of Iraq and Somali capital Mogadishu, are not granted asylum in other member states of the EU, and Finland decided to follow suit.

The decision could see a great number of Iraqis and Somalia would be sent back to their home countries, said Yle.
  Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
  13/10/15