CANBERRA, Australia – Three Iraqi diplomats and their families have asked for humanitarian asylum in Australia, refusing orders to return to their conflict-wracked country, Australian government officials said today.
Chief defense attache Brig.-Gen. Sabah al-Kareen Zebon Fureje and two staffers, Colonel Kamal J. Askander and Ala' al-Amiri, refused to go home after the defense office in the Iraqi Embassy was shut down in mid-December.
The claim may embarrass the Australian government, which insists Iraq is making progress toward democracy, despite the country's bloody insurgency. A close U.S. ally, Australia has about 1,500 troops deployed in and around Iraq.
“The three Iraqi staff working in the office have completed their postings and their diplomatic accreditation has been ceased,” an Australian Foreign Ministry spokesman said. “We understand these officials and their dependents have applied through normal channels for visas to remain.”
An Iraqi Embassy spokesman said the three had been stripped of their diplomatic status and were no longer in touch with ambassador Ghanim T. Al-Shibli.
Former Iraqi air force pilot Askander, his wife, Ibtisam, and their four children feared for their safety following a string of kidnappings and ransom demands against former diplomats on their return to Baghdad, Sen. Gary Humphries told the daily Australian.
Humphries said Askander's brother had been kidnapped by militants and his brother-in-law slain because he sold alcohol.
The Foreign Ministry spokesman said their request for humanitarian asylum would be dealt with by immigration officials on their individual merits under Australian law.
