Iraqi Trapped in Lithuania Speaks Out: Officials Protecting Us Cry Over Inhumane Conditions

Iraqi Kurds Dominate Among Refugees

Migrants who crossed the Lithuanian border illegally and were stranded in our country for some time had their own reasons for fleeing to Europe. Some have embarked on this adventure to reach those European countries where their family or friends are already established, while others claim to have saved their lives.

Most of the migrants in Lithuania are Iraqi Kurds, including various ethnic and religious Yazidis. Attempts have been made many times to wipe their faith, a national minority professing Yazidism, from the face of the earth. Yazidis interviewed say they have survived 74 genocides, and perhaps the most widespread massacre was carried out by a terrorist organization called “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,” ISIS.

Ahmed, an Iraqi living in one of the country’s migrant camps, revealed the reasons why he had to leave his home country and become an illegal migrant. The man says he hopes Lithuanian society will realize that this dangerous path was chosen to survive when terror began against Iraqis seeking democratic change.

“We are not economic migrants. Among us, many educated people who are willing and able to work, start their own businesses. We are here because we have been forced to flee our country. We had no other choice,” Ahmed told Delfi.

He decided to flee Iraq after the authorities cracked down on the protests.

According to the interlocutor, Iraqis are not a homogeneous society, the country is home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Yazidis, Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen.

“We lived in peace and security, but after the events of 2003, when Saddam Hussein’s regime fell, chaos began.” Terrorism has flowed from neighboring countries to Iraq, my country has been destroyed, about a million people have died, “said Ahmed.

He mentioned that a wave of anti-government protests had disappointed the agitation. He himself said he was involved in the so-called October 2020 Revolution, when a crowd of protesters who took to the streets of Baghdad demanded reforms and the resignation of the Iraqi government.

According to Ahmed, protesters seeking change were brutally treated – about 1,000. people dead, 25 thousand. injured.

“So many young people fell just because we demanded a free homeland. “We want Iraq to be ruled by the Iraqis themselves, not by Iran as it is now,” said the refugee.

Ahmed mentioned that the entire family was being persecuted when his father was killed by military groups. Serious threats were received for their participation in anti-government protests.

An interlocutor from Delfi shared videos of his participation in the protest and the massacre. They record how tear gas canisters were applied to the protesters’ heads and how snipers fired at the protesters. Due to the brutal scenes of violence, we cannot show all these images.
It is the influence of neighboring Iran, the military groups it finances, the violence and killings in dealing with the young generation that wants change, what Ahmed calls the main cause that forced him and other Iraqis to flee his homeland. .

There are about 10 military factions.

When asked if the remnants of Hezbollah and ISIS in Iraq, as other accused refugees said, posed the greatest threat to those who protested the government and demanded its resignation, Ahmed said that not only these but also other paramilitary groups were active.

“These are other Iranian groups, not just Hezbollah. We have Muqtad al-Sadr (Iraqi Shiite leader – ed.), Whose group is called the Mahdi Army, and we also have Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq.
– Iranian Paramilitary Shiite Organization – ed.). The total number of military groups in Iraq is about 10, “said the asylum seeker.

Referring to the situation of the Kurds in Iraq, he mentioned that this ethnic group could live safely in a single city, Mosul, which was previously controlled by religious ISIS extremists.

Ahmed showed video in which surveillance cameras captured a man who was shot in the street. He said it was a crackdown on a protester by Iranian-backed military groups.

“There are hundreds of these cases.” They did everything: they kidnapped people, they killed, they raped girls and they imprisoned them, “said the young Iraqi.

The migrant said that he could document that his father had been killed by military groups, who had been persecuted by the family, but no one had asked for them when requesting asylum, according to the interlocutor, who still considered him an economic migrant.

He spoke about the crying of Lithuanian officials.

By hinting that part of society was negative about illegal immigrants, Ahmed said he was aware.

“I know some people call the refugees here the simplest terrorists. But if a refugee is a terrorist, why does he flee to a country where terrorism is rampant? The truth is that we are the ones who have suffered terrorism and terrorism. Iraqi politicians who flatter Iran “If Iraq frees itself from Iran’s influence, it will never see Iraqi refugees again,” said a young man living in one of the migrant camps.

He mentioned that living conditions are unsatisfactory. The lack of medical services is especially denounced, since migrants are only given basic and necessary assistance. Therefore, it is difficult or even impossible for people with chronic diseases to receive proper treatment here.

Ahmed said he was largely surviving because his sick and walking mother, who came to Lithuania together, said she had repeatedly asked for help, showed medical documents, but received a negative response.

The refugee told a high-ranking representative of the Migration Department who attended the camp about his mother’s health status. According to the Iraqi, she did not seem to mind at all, as she only heard a formal apology for the situation.

“I have noticed that the agents who guard us, especially the women, cry for the inhumane conditions in which we live. But we do not get mad at them, we realize that they are only following the instructions of the commanders, who probably think that we will not hold out and agree to return to Iraq. But we really can’t go back to where they threatened us with death at any time, “Ahmed told Delfi.

They do not want to become a burden on the Lithuanian people.

He said that he had lost confidence in the authorities as a result of the behavior of some officials. It is said that it hurts more when an official treats migrants, in their words, as if they do not understand children.

“We are smarter than you think. Therefore, we do not trust any of the documents that you provide us. We have heard that sometimes people unknowingly sign consents to return them, simply because they present a document written in Lithuanian for their signature, ”said the migrant.

The Iraqi said he understood that Lithuania was not prepared for such an influx of migrants and added that this situation was a test for our country’s politicians.

“It just came to our notice then. If our presence here causes problems for Lithuania, I will leave because I don’t want to be a burden or hurt the Lithuanian people.” Just not back to Iraq, where I would die, “Ahmed said.

There is another problem that can turn into discomfort

Ahmed, who lives in one of the migrant camps, admitted that the migrants’ accommodation did not take their denomination into account, did not distinguish between Sunnis and Shiites, they were all called Iraqi Muslims. Kurds and Yessidians are also housed at the same time, the opastars are not even Muslims, they profess their religion – Yessidism. That is why this ethno-religious minority has been persecuted and genocidal, accused by radical Islamists of worshiping Satan and murdered.

Therefore, it is possible that by living together, migrants from inter-religious conflicts in Iraq, torn by political and religious conflicts, can also be found here in migrant camps.

Egdūnas Račius, a professor at Vytautas Magnus University (VMU), Islam researcher and religious researcher, told the Delfi portal that politicized interfaith tensions may indeed occur.

“It can happen especially in situations where people feel trapped, vulnerable. Such things (confessional differences – ed.) Should be taken into account and try not to create situations in which such tensions can occur,” said Professor E. Račius from VMU.

According to the academic, segregation may not be necessary because human religiosity is individual, especially since Yazidis have lived and survived in Iraq for centuries.

“If you feel there is tension, you need to respond appropriately and do everything possible to prevent the verbal tension from turning into physical violence,” said E. Račius.

The fact that migrants of different denominations are housed under one roof, the professor did not call a delayed-action bomb, but did mention that potentially, in individual cases, conflicts could arise.

“If there are no cultural sensitivities on the part of our public servants, the staff of the centers, neglected situations will turn into possible abscesses at any time. I agree that the cultural education of our employees is necessary, I myself participate in it and I think that part of what I say is analyzed, it is taken into account ”, said Professor E. Račius from VMU.