Three Kurdish Migrants Die in France Within One Week

Three Kurdish migrants have died in France over the past week, according to reports from a Europe-based rights activist. The fatalities include one individual who was killed, while the other two succumbed to health complications and a cardiac event.

Ranj Pishdari, a migrant rights activist, confirmed the deaths on Sunday but noted that details regarding the identity and circumstances of the killing remain unconfirmed. The deaths occurred within a seven-day period, underscoring the acute dangers faced by those traveling to Europe via the Mediterranean.

Deaths attributed to health and violence

Shivan Ismail Khalil, a 20-year-old from Rania, died at a hospital in Lille after a virus contracted in freezing camp conditions worsened. Pishdari stated that late hospital admission contributed to the severity of his illness, leading to his death at midnight. A second migrant, Bzhar Fazil Bakozi from Duhok province, died of a heart attack, though his family had not yet been informed of the passing.

Diplomatic efforts for repatriation

Ali Dolamari, the Kurdistan Regional Government representative in France, confirmed awareness of the incidents and ongoing communication with the victims' families. He explained that diplomatic officials must wait for formal death certificates from French authorities before the bodies can be legally repatriated to the Kurdistan Region.

Ongoing detention in Libya

While two of the deceased traveled via Libya, Iraqi parliament member Muthanna Amin highlighted that ten Kurdish migrants remain held captive by armed groups in the country. Amin noted that these sites are not under state authority, preventing direct diplomatic engagement. Despite families paying the requested ransom of $4,000, the release of these individuals remains pending.