A Kurdish asylum seeker from Iranian sets himself on fire in front of the UN office in Erbil

Henagw : A Kurdish asylum seeker from Iranian Kurdistan who had been forced to live in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq for four years in inhumane conditions without the minimum welfare rights set himself on fire in front of the United Nations office in Erbil .

According to a report received by Hengaw Human Rights Organization, at around noon on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, two asylum seekers from Iranian Kurdistan went on strike in front of the UN office in Erbil , one of whom set himself on fire.

This asylum seeker who has been identified for Hengaw as “ Behzad Mahmoudi” 25-year-old from Bukan told the media that : "We have been here for four years and we have no rights and the UN does not give us any answers and demands denies our requests “

According to Hengaw  sources, Behzad (Mohammad) Mahmoudi was a political activist and a member of Khabat organisation of Iranian Kurdistan.

"We have said that if our demands are not met, we will burn ourselves here, and UN officials have told us not to burn ourselves here so that we will not be harmed," he added.

It is said that after the asylum seeker set himself on fire by pouring gasoline on his body, none of the staff of the UN office provided any assistance to him.  Journalists and people present tried to save his life and he was finally taken to the hospital by ambulance, which according to the latest news, his physical condition is reported to be crucial.