UN investigates abuse claims by deported Iraqis

Claims by Iraqi asylum seekers that they were mistreated by British officials before being deported back to Iraq are to be investigated by the UN refugee agency.

A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees today said 14 failed asylum seekers claimed they were beaten by UK border agency staff at a London airport when they were forced on a plane to be returned to Baghdad.

Andrej Mahecic says the men were among 42 rejected asylum seekers deported to Iraq yesterday.

He said that the agency met six of the Iraqis and saw fresh bruises that indicated possible mistreatment.

UNHCR has said that Baghdad and Iraq’s five central provinces are not secure enough for failed asylum applicants to be sent there.