Germany says Prague bound to readmit 25 Iraqi refugees

The Czech Republic is obliged to readmit 25 Iraqi refugees who attempted to move to Germany last weekend, according to the German authorities. They have reminded Prague that the obligation stems from European readmission agreements. The German side officially requested readmission for the group on Thursday but the Czech Republic refused to comply on the grounds that the German readmission request had formal shortcomings and was not fully in line with European legislation. The group of 25 Christian refugees from Iraq arrived in the Czech Republic within a government supported relocation program for 150 refugees initiated and financed by the NGO Generation 21. However after a few weeks here they gave up their refugee status and hired a bus to take them to Germany where they asked for asylum. The government later decided to cancel the program.