Iraq has been one of the few countries in the Middle East which has a very bloody history as it instigated many conflicts in the region, as well as hosted other conflicts. With the events following 9/11, Iraq became one of the major targets of the War on Terror due to the belief the country harbored the same terrorist group who instigated the attack. As a result, many Iraqis are forced to leave their homes and seek asylum in other nations to save themselves from the violence. However, with the new government in place, there is a question if asylum seekers would be protected once the return back to the country. Asylum seekers should think twice in returning to the country because there is still a possibility their living conditions and safety would be curtailed by the current situation in the country.
For ethnic asylum seekers, returning to the country would be difficult considering the current ruling ethnic group in the region and the lack of representation for their sector. Although the end of the war had ensured elections would occur that could have evened out the playing field for the ethnic groups in the country, Sunnis and Turks - which were the majority asylum seekers since the beginning of the War – failed to gain representation in the government. The Kurds and the Shiites, which remained as majority factions in the country even after the war, claimed all the government slots and made sure other ethnic groups would find little representation or protection from their policies . Should the minority ethnic parties who sought asylum return to the country, not only would they find it difficult to get representation, but they would have to live in a country where they have limited rights and protections from potential bullying . On their end, political asylum seekers would find it difficult to blend in considering their political preferences. If the current government made a mistake, there is a possibility of a political backlash from these asylum seekers with how the government should act. Further conflict may ensue throughout the country and destabilize any progress done since the end of the war. If these asylum seekers are members of the previous government, they may also find it difficult to fight for their rights because of their previous affiliation .
It is the dream of many refugees and asylum seekers to return to the country once the conflict is over. Many believe progress and change is imminent, especially if the country is liberated from oppressive governments. In the case of Iraq, returning to the country is still dangerous for asylum seekers because the scars of the conflict remains fresh. Both ethnic and political asylum seekers would find it difficult to move around their own countries due to the present policies and conflicting ideologies still persisting in the country. If Iraq wishes to reunite its people, they should ensure that each sector would be protected and equal opportunities for representation and safety would be provided.
Works Cited
Ashraf, Haroon. “Iraq’s refugees and internally displaced people will face hardship
wherever they go.” The Lancet 361.9358 (2003): 630-631. Print.
Perveen, Ali. “’I am Iraq’: Law, life and violence in the formation of the Iraqi state.”
Utrecht Law Review 7.1 (2011): 4-28. Print.
Sirkeci, Ibrahim. "War in Iraq: Environment of Insecurity and International Migration."
International Migration 43.4 (2005): 197-214. Print.
