Former Saddam minister loses refugee bid

A former minister in the government of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been denied refugee status in New Zealand.

But Amer Al-Khashali is trying to overturn the decision by claiming the government has an obligation to protect him because of the publicity sparked by his case, it was reported today.

Mr Al-Khashali, a 69-year-old former Iraqi agriculture minister, is awaiting the result of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority's October hearing into his claim, the Sunday Star Times reported today.

He is also appealing for the reinstatement of his visitor's permit, revoked after Winston Peters named him in parliament.

Mr Al-Khashali's lawyer Simon Laurent said his client was living in Auckland with his wife and sister-in-law. He believed Mr Al-Khashali would be receiving a pension from the United Nations, where he was a former delegate.

Mr Laurent said part of his argument on appeal was that publicity around the case had reached Iraq and made his client a target.

"It's a question of what is the responsibility of the New Zealand government when it's the New Zealand government that led to the refugee status ... it is appropriate that government bend over backwards for the misuse (of the information)."

He said Mr Peters used his client "clearly for political expediency... in order to score political points. There's no nicer way to put it".

Mr Peters said the argument was "legalistic nonsense" and that Mr Al-Khashali would "waste taxpayers' money and waste tribunal time" before being told to leave.

Immigration minister David Cunliffe refused to comment to the newspaper on Mr Al-Khashali's case because it could prejudice the appeal.

However, he said immigration laws were undergoing a substantive review. A discussion document looking at the laws would be released in March.

- NZPA