The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) has seriously criticised Denmark and Sweden for the way in which the two countries return rejected asylum seekers to Iraq.

According to the UNHCR, the repatriations violate the cornerstone of the United Nations Convention on Refugees - its article on non-refoulement.

Non-refoulement is a principle concerning the protection of refugees from being returned to places where their lives or freedom could be threatened as a result of war, persecution or disasters.

"A state that sends rejected asylum seekers from the central regions of Iraq back to that part of the country is carrying out a policy that violates UNHCR guidelines and contravenes the requirements of the convention on non-refoulement," says UNHCR Nordic Office Media Spokeswoman Hanne Mathisen in Stockholm.

Inflation
Denmark's Integration Minister Birthe Rønn Hornbæk has reacted strongly to the allegation.

"Unbelievable with those people at the UNHCR. Their allegations that we are violating conventions are inflated," Rønn Hornbech says.

"The Iraqis have been sent back in keeping with Danish law, which does not violate any conventions," she adds.

UN powerless
Irrespective of the UNHCR's view - there is nothing the organisation can do about it.

"We are not police and can only put forward arguments, enter into dialogue and just hope that at some point the situation in Iraq improves so much that such repatriations will be reasonable - or that the Danish authorities begin enacting policies that are in keeping with our guidelines," says Mathisen who adds that the UNHCR is not aware of any other countries other than Denmark and Sweden that forcibly repatriate Iraqis to the most dangerous provinces in the country.