A first analysis of recent asylum applications from Iraqis coming from Bagdad (Iraq) shows that many candidates put forward similar facts in a rather stereotypical way. They often present insufficient evidence regarding a real risk in case of return. Moreover, according to some sources, the security situation in Bagdad has changed since 2014 and is no longer such that every applicant from Bagdad runs a real risk in case of return.
The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) intends to analyse this information in order to assess whether it is still justified to grant subsidiary protection status to all applicants coming from Bagdad. Pending the outcome of this analysis, the Commissioner General has decided to freeze decisions regarding applicants from Baghdad and surrounding districts.
The Netherlands has also decided to freeze decisions regarding Baghdad and surrounding districts. In many other countries such as Germany, applicants from Baghdad and surrounding districts are as a rule not automatically granted refugee or subsidiary protection status. The individual situation of the applicant has to be assessed in each case.
The CGRS continues to apply as a basic principle that all those in need of international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) will be granted this protection. When granting protection, the CGRS takes into account the actual and present situation after a thorough examination of every element.