Hermiz Shahen
Assyrian Universal Alliance
Secretary-Australia Chapter

Dec. 9, 05

The following report was raised in parliament by the Federal Member for Prospect Mr. Chris Bowen MP. Since the lodgment of AUA petition in Parliament during last May 2005, Mr Bowen has continuously raised the issue of the Assyrians during the question time in Parliament.

On behalf of the Assyrian Universal Alliance-Australia Chapter and the Assyrian community in Australia. We would like to thank him for his cooperation and support, to raise the Assyrian issues with the Australian Government. It is very encouraging to have such strong support from a friend of Assyrians, who care about the future of our nation and our worldwide struggle to advance our pleas for our national and human rights in Iraq.

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Mr Bowen: In October this year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees issued a report on the human rights of minorities in Iraq. This is something I have spoken about in the House previously, and indeed the House has debated a motion I moved on protecting the rights of Assyrian, Chaldean and Mandaean minorities in Iraq. This report gives crucial official support to the concerns of these communities that their human rights are now more violated than they were even under Saddam Hussein's regime. This is a claim that I found surprising when I heard it, but I have heard it raised time and time again and, on my reading of reports by bodies like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, I am convinced it is true.

The UNHCR report explicitly deals with this issue. At page 2 the report reads that the situation of these minorities has:

"been noticeably aggravated since the invasion of Coalition forces and the subsequent fall of the former regime in March/April 2003."

The report goes on to say:

The Iraqi Security Forces are currently not capable of effectively maintaining law and order. In addition, the lack of a functionary judiciary often leaves victims of assault, maltreatment, expropriation and other attacks without legal protection and redress, including members of religious minorities. Increasingly, Iraqis are resorting to extra judicial conflict resolution and protection mechanisms such as tribal law. Members of religious minorities often do no have access to such traditional mechanisms, as they do not necessarily belong to a tribal grouping."

Minister Downer, in his letters to me, in his answers to questions on notice that I have placed with him and in his correspondence to the various organisations which represent these groups, does not recognise there is a serious problem with the human rights of these groups. Minister Downer refers to the protections for these groups in the Iraqi constitution. I recognise this protection but, in the real world, it is having zero practical impact. I again quote the UNHCR:

"In practice, however, religious minorities' freedom of religion is severely impeded by the current situation on the ground."

Yesterday, I met with the Iraqi Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Ghanim Taha Al-Shibli, at the instigation of the shadow minister for foreign affairs and trade, the member for Griffith. I was very happy with the Ambassador's response to the issues I raised. He indicated that he was willing to make very strong representations to the Iraqi government and raise the concerns of the Australian community at the highest level. He also indicated that he was acutely aware of the issues that I raised and that he has close relationships with many of the communities I discussed with him. He also indicated that he had been to a wedding in my electorate just the week before.

I have been very careful to conscientiously avoid making political points on this issue, but I need to say in this House that the government needs to recognise the 'real world' situation in Iraq. The government needs to keep this issue at the forefront of its discussions with both the Iraqi government and the United States government. In relation to immigration, the government needs to recognise that the human rights situation of religious minorities in Iraq has worsened, and our refugee policy needs to recognise that. Many cases have come through my electorate office in which the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs seems to be paying less credence to the real concerns of members of these minorities about their physical safety in Iraq.

I recognise that this is a difficult issue. I recognise that anyone can claim to be in physical danger in their homeland. I recognise that the department and the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs face a difficult job in sorting out who is genuine and who is simply using this as an excuse to try and gain entry into Australia. But I appeal to the minister to read the UNHCR report and take it into consideration when weighing up the claims of members of these minority groups when it comes to assessing their applications for refugee status in Australia. The special humanitarian program needs to recognise that the situation in Iraq is not 'rosy' now that Hussein has been toppled. Indeed, for many groups, quite credibly, it has worsened. These groups have a valid claim that they are more persecuted now than ever before. The people in the Assyrian, Chaldean and Mandaean communities are good people. They care deeply about the plight of their relatives at home. I call on the government and the House to do everything possible to assist them in furthering the aims of the Assyrian, Mandaean and Chaldean populations in Iraq.