Stephen Williams calls for halt to Iraqi deportations

12.00.00pm GMT Fri 10th Feb 2006

Stephen Williams has today called on the Government to suspend the deportation of two Iraqi Kurds, due to be removed on Monday.

Adnan Khafoor and Ahmed Kader have been living in the UK for a number of years, waiting for the Home Office to decide the outcome of their application for asylum. On Tuesday however they were arrested and taken to an immigration detention centre, in anticipation of being sent back to Iraq on Monday.

Commenting on the arrest, Stephen Williams said, "I cannot be satisfied that all legal avenues and opportunities for Ministerial discretion have been exhausted, and so I think there are reasonable grounds for the removal of Mr Khafoor and Mr Kader to be suspended."

"I am also concerned that neither individual was given the opportunity to collect their personal belongings, secure their property, or speak to friends and neighbours. I would like to know why this infringement of what I consider to be a basic human right was allowed to occur."

Stephen is now awaiting a response from Immigration Minister Liam Byrne.