Iraqi ambassador asks Finland to give refugees more time

Iraqi ambassador to Finland Matheel Al-Sabti has appealed to Finland to allow Iraqi asylum seekers to remain in the northern European country "at least some time longer," media reported on Friday.

In an interview with the newsweekly Suomen Kuvalehti, the ambassador said that the war in Iraq is now in a "crucial phase".

Al-Sabti said it may be a question of only a few months when the country starts to stabilize and the people are likely to be willing to go home voluntarily once the expected stability is achieved.

The ambassador emphasized that there are highly trained professionals among the asylum seekers. "Please. Treat them well, as guests are treated. They are not bad people," he said.

The statement by the ambassador followed reports that Iraqis had been experiencing increasing difficulties in obtaining permit to remain in Finland.

The magazine reported that in June and July less than one in six asylum applications were accepted. In 2015, over 85 percent were approved.

The situation with Syrians is different. All asylum seekers from Syria got the approval currently, the Finnish media reported this week.

Al-Sabti said Iraq does not accept enforced and involuntary repatriations of Iraqis to Iraq. He said there are no refugee camps in Iraq for these people to go to, if they have no work or family. Endit