In an email from National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns–
today’s charter flight did go ahead. 140 people were scheduled to be on the flight, but 11 were taken off at the last moment because they became too ill to fly.
As far as we know the 11 were taken back to detention. In at least one case the solicitor has applied for bail because the individual cannot now be removed before his removal directions expire on Sunday.
Context-
More than 1,400 rejected Iraqi asylum seekers are to be told they must go home or face destitution in Britain as the government considers Iraq safe enough to return them, according to leaked Home Office correspondence seen by the Guardian.
The Iraqis involved are to be told that unless they sign up for a voluntary return programme to Iraq within three weeks, they face being made homeless and losing state support. They will also be asked to sign a waiver agreeing the government will take no responsibility for what happens to them or their families once they return to Iraqi territory.
The decision by the home secretary, Jacqui Smith, to declare that it is safe to send asylum seekers back to Iraq comes after more than 78 people have been killed in incidents across Iraq since last Sunday.
Well it’s more than 78 now, I don’t care what piece of paper they were harangued into signing, the government has responsibility for any harm that befalls them. Although all the cogs in the mechanism that did this, shame on you too. Shame on you.
Ten Percent 
29 March, 2008 at 1:45 am
I remember how Tony “The Poodle” Blair kept nattering on about human rights to justify the war. This is one of many examples of how full of shit he was. Gordon Brown is continuing Blairism without Blair. I wonder if Brown will end up with a high-paying job with the Carlyse Group (sp?).
29 March, 2008 at 11:21 am
EXCELLENT NEWS!!!! Now let’s get rid of the rest of them! And all the other lying free loading bastards! GO HOME!!!!!!!
29 March, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Ah, always the voice of reason and compassion. I think even if this bloke had 8 brains, they all would be wasted on him!
29 March, 2008 at 3:10 pm
to 8 them above;
you are the most bastard one , i am sure you never sow your father.you are the son of both bastards blair & Brown, who destroyed the life of many people around the world. let first your fucking army live iraq than say it is safe. you are robbing hole iraq but still thinking that poor iraqi asylum seekers robbing uk…just a bastards thinking.
29 March, 2008 at 3:17 pm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/mar/25/immigrationpolicy.immigration
The government is preparing to airlift up to 2,000 Iraqis out of their country to begin a new life in the UK, the first time that Iraqis will arrive here with their status as refugees assured.
Those hand-picked to come to Britain include translators and other staff who have supported British forces in Iraq. The plan follows controversy last year about the government refusing many interpreters sanctuary in the UK despite the fact their work could put their lives in danger.
Documents seen by the Guardian show the Home Office and Ministry of Defence are working with Migrant Helpline, a charity which provides advice and support for refugees and asylum seekers, to help the Iraqis to settle.
29 March, 2008 at 6:26 pm
McClatchy reports civil war activity in Iraq today. police in Basra refuse to attack Sadrists.
29 March, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Hey GLH, yep different captain same ship. I think as well as the standard Carlyle hush money Brown will get banker type gigs, maybe the imf or world bank, and some Euro gigs. He’s not quite got the poodle rock star profile as Blair so he won’t snag the high profile bullshit Tony has got and I think rightists are not convinced he doesn’t harbour some leftism deep in his dour Scottish soul, ie he would sell his grandmother, but he might have a spoonful of regret at some point in the future.
8them, just because you can type doesn’t mean you have anything worth saying, try and remember that it will help you a lot in life.
Rafael, 8 would be 8 more than he has right now.
Baban, thanks for coming by, yes who is stealing here- Iraqis refugees or imperial forces securing oil reserves with violence. But that’s how some stupid people are led to think, they are propagandised to think our invasion is a good thing and people running for their lives are in the wrong. They’d rather pay taxes to kill other people than to help them live. They live on hate, they are pathetic.
On those allowed in, yep I’ve written about that- https://tenpercent.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/politicised-asylum/
very hypocritical to be deporting at the same time we fly in those who collaborated with the army. Seeming to make asylum a reward for collaboration with occupying armies, shameful.
Hey opit, yep I’ve seen quite a few stories that the Sadrists enjoy broad support and sympathy (and many did what they said out of fear too), it may just be with this assault the occupiers have bitten off more than they can chew. This might be a determining moment for the occupation’s plans. If it becomes a broad resistance to the occupation beyond just the Sadrists. Racist warmongers in the US like to complain the Iraqis are not ‘standing up’ to take over (after decimating their country, blaming the victim), well they are and they are telling the occupiers to leave.