Fed: Iraqis don't get automatic asylum in Australia: Downer

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2007
Fed: Iraqis don't get automatic asylum in Australia: Downer

Foreign Affairs Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says Iraqis seeking asylum in Australia won't
automatically be granted protection.

But a spokeswoman for Immigration Minister KEVIN ANDREWS says three Iraqi diplomats
and their families will be given sanctuary.

Nine months after the group initially sought refuge in Australia .. protection visas
have been issued to Brigadier General SABAH ABED AL-KAREEM FUREJE .. Colonel KAMAL ASKANDER
.. ALAA HASSAN FATHEL AL-AMIRI .. and their wives and children.

All three were working in the Iraqi embassy in Canberra when they were stripped of
their diplomatic status .. and ordered back to Iraq.

Mr DOWNER says the men are being assessed on their individual circumstances .. and
not because they came from Iraq.







News Limited says Colonel ASKANDER .. his wife IBTISAM and four children faced significant
risk in Iraq because of their Christian faith.

GENERAL FUREJE .. who served under the former regime of SADDAM HUSSEIN .. fears being
killed by gangs because of his past position.

AAP RTV vpm/wjf/maur/rt

KEYWORD: ASYLUM DOWNER (SYDNEY)

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