Many displaced Iraqis in the Netherlands have stipulated their resettlement in the Kurdistan Region as a condition for accepting the proposed voluntary return to their country.

Iraqi refugees,pnabarThe demands come at a time when other Iraqis, whose applications for asylum in the Netherlands were rejected, are impatiently waiting for the visit of Iraqi Minister of Immigration Dindar Dosky to Amsterdam in the middle of June to hold talks with Dutch Immigration Minister Geert Lierse about ways to solve the problem of Iraqis in the Netherlands who refuse to return to their country.

Since Iraqis ended their protest in Groningen city in response to Lierse's request and moved temporarily to a shelter, many of them now hope to stay in the Netherlands while a few of them wish to return safely to Iraq.

Those who wish to return have stipulated conditions, including the provision of work and financial support, in addition to a monthly income until they find jobs.

Mohammed Hassan, one of the Iraqi protesters, said: "The insistence of the Dutch authorities to deport us will not change after meeting the Iraqi minister.

"The Iraqi minister will tell the Dutch officials that the situation is safe and that we can return, but this is not applied to all people, where I personally I can't return to the country for personal reasons and not for security reasons, but I would accept to return to the Kurdistan region if that was arranged."

At the same time, Iraqi refugee Hama Saeid was excited to return to the Kurdistan Region and regretted the time he spent in the Netherlands.

He said: "I was among the protestors and sought to stay in the Netherlands because I got used to life here and improved my work in carpentry. With the insistence of the authorities to deport me, I am ready now to return, especially since the situation in Kurdistan is stable and secure. The Dutch authorities know that the region is stable."

Saeid called on young Kurds not to take risks and migrate to Europe based on incorrect information, urging them to work in Kurdistan and build their future there.

He has chosen to return voluntarily and will receive a bonus of about $3,000 (3.4m IQD) in addition to a free plane ticket to Erbil.

Karim Hussein from Baghdad meanwhile hoped to stay in the Netherlands because he cannot return to his native country at all.

"My return to Iraq means the end of my life," said Hussein, without disclosing the reasons that prevent his return and the risks that threaten his life.

Ahmed Kamel and Jassim al-Yasiri assured that they will return to the Kurdistan region after a work opportunity is provided for them.

The Dutch Immigration Ministry allocated temporary centers for Iraqis to stay in until the middle of next month, which is when talks will begin between both Iraq and the Netherlands about ways to resolve the issue.



AKnews