Statement from UNHCR

An Irish Times article of 3 January sets out information of a very serious and grave nature regarding an individual deported to Tanzania in April 2014.

UNHCR became aware of this information in May 2014 when it was posted on a facebook page by Anti-Deportation Ireland. UNHCR immediately contacted the authorities in Ireland and Tanzania and the Irish authorities contacted the Tanzanian authorities seeking further information.  The Tanzanian authorities are undertaking inquiries into this information and we await the outcome of the inquiries.

As the UN agency responsible for the supervision of compliance with the 1951 Refugee Convention (including in particular the prohibition of refoulement* set out in Article 33), UNHCR takes all reports of possible refoulement seriously. UNHCR liaises with National Authorities in relation to any such reports. It is important that the facts are established in relation to such reports.

* No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.