Whistleblower Iraqi MP refused entry to Britain

The Iraqi MP who exposed prisoner abuse, including torture, rape and murder has today been refused entry into Britain.

Mohammed Al Deeni, an independent member of the parliament frequently described by British ministers as the most democratic in Iraqi history, wanted to address a meeting in the House of Commons as part of his ongoing efforts to highlight human rights abuses in Iraqi jails.

The Iraqi himself has been the target of sectarian death squads. Within days of his groundbreaking documentary from Diyala prison being shown around the world, the MP’s 10 cousins were murdered in cold blood on the street having been seized from a minibus following a meeting with him.

His visa application was turned down in record time by British embassy in Jordan. Embassy officials declined to give their reasons to the British parliamentarians who had invited him.

George Galloway, one of the organisers of the visit, said:

"We say we are a democracy. Our prime minister says they are a democracy. Yet when an Iraqi MP wants to speak to his counterparts in Britain about inconvenient truths he’s not allowed into Britain.

"No Member of Parliament, almost irrespective of their view on the decision to go to war, can allow this to stand. I have today tabled a motion condemning this decision, written to the Speaker, and demanded of the Foreign Office that they reconsider.

"Treating Al Deeni in this way can only make him further vulnerable to the violence that has engulfed his family.”

George has tabled an Early Day Motion on the matter, and is encouraging all MPs to sign it. You can find the EDM here. You can find the other EDMs that George has signed or initiated by clicking here. You can also read the letter George has written to Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary.