Palestinian refugees in Iraq are shocked by the revelation of new legislation banning them from owning taxis, which are the livelihood of many. Palestinians in the country.

The legislation, detailed in an Iraqi Interior Ministry document, makes clear that this does not prevent them from working “independently” as taxi drivers.

According to the document issued in October, a copy of which was obtained by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, Of the New Arab Arabic sister edition, non-Iraqis – inclusive Palestinian refugees – they are prohibited from “owning taxis” although they can own private cars.

“The tight restrictions around Palestinian refugees in Iraq continue,” says Hassan Khaled, a Palestinian activist in Iraq, adding: “Every day there is a new decision.”

Khaled explains that the Palestinian population in Iraq has dropped from 35,000 before 2003 to just 6,000 today.

“Systematic legal discrimination against Palestinians in Iraq is evident – from repealing Resolution 202 and depriving the families of retired employees of their pension rights, to leaving Palestinians out of the compensation plan (scheme) for victims of terrorism, to depriving them of their rights to property – even a home to live in,” says Khaled.

He says Palestinians even face losing their refugee status if they leave the country for more than a month and are not allowed to travel by land.

The ban on owning your own taxis is just the latest of these restrictions, he says.

Ago 2003 US-led invasion of IraqPalestinians have lost many of the protections they have historically enjoyed in the country.

Resolution 202, passed in 2001, gave Palestinian refugees all the benefits to which Iraqi citizens were entitled, apart from obtaining nationality.

These rights included access to free healthcare and education, as well as government jobs and pensions.

However, it was repealed in 2017stripping the Palestinians of Iraq of the protections they have had for decades.

Iraqi departments and institutions also took other harsh measures against Palestinians in 2018. A monthly ration card that was given to Palestinians was withdrawn, leaving many families trapped in poverty.

Retirement benefits for the families of deceased Palestinians were also withheld, and Palestinians have since been forced to pay high fees for medical care.

Exempting the Palestinians in Iraq from being covered by Bill 21, which deals with compensating victims of terrorism and crimes committed by US forces during the occupation, was considered one of the the biggest hits to the Palestinian diaspora in the country.

This article is based on an article that appeared in our Arabic editionn by Mohamed Albasiem on November 13, 2024. To read the original article, click Here.