Iranian wrongly deported to Baghdad claims he was tortured

Aland Salimi says Iraqi police beat and starved him after he was deported from Britain following failed asylum application

An Iranian who was mistakenly deported to Baghdad from the UK claims he endured beatings and starvation at the hands of Iraqi police officers.

The alleged mistreatment of Aland Salimi, 21, has emerged as the European court of human rights this week considers whether it is safe to resume deporting failed Iraqi asylum seekers to the Iraqi capital.

Deportations to Baghdad by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have in effect been suspended until 24 November because of an upsurge in violence and attacks on Christian churches.

The office of the UN high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR) has also raised concerns about the conditions under which unsuccessful asylum seekers are forcibly returned to the Middle East.

The case of Salimi, an Iranian Kurd who came to Britain in 2007, illustrates the difficulties facing the immigration services. The UKBA says he consistently described himself as Iraqi during his application for asylum in the UK, in the hope of strengthening his chances of being accepted.

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