More than a dozen people from the Kurdistan Region who were detained in Tunisian waters in early August have been released, according to Iraqi lawmaker Muthana Amin. The release follows the detention of 16 individuals attempting to enter Europe illegally while traveling on tourist visas.

“Fourteen of the 16 Kurds who were arrested about two months ago in Tunisia were released yesterday,” said Amin, a member of Iraq’s parliamentary foreign relations committee, in a statement to Rudaw. The remaining two detainees are minors and are expected to be released soon, pending legal procedures, he added.

The group was part of a larger trend that began after Tunisia eased visa requirements for Iraqi tourists in June. The relaxed visa regulations have led some Iraqi citizens to view Tunisia as a gateway for migrating to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea.

In a similar case, Omar Barzanji, undersecretary of Iraq’s foreign ministry, reported last month that ten more people from the Kurdistan Region had been detained in Tunisia for attempting illegal migration, though all were subsequently released.

Tunisia, located along the Mediterranean coast, has become a key transit point for migrants from the Middle East and Africa seeking to cross into Europe, with many aiming to reach Italy and other destinations.

Every year, tens of thousands of people from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region embark on dangerous journeys toward Europe, fleeing issues such as unemployment, political instability, and corruption. The perilous routes taken by migrants highlight the ongoing struggles many face in their home countries.