Café owner arrested for allegedly exploiting undocumented Syrian workers in Kut

WASIT — Security forces in Kut, Wasit, arrested a café owner on Sunday for allegedly exploiting Syrian women and forcing them to work without proper documentation.

A local security source told 964media, “Our organized crime division, in coordination with intelligence and surveillance units, conducted an operation to execute judicial orders and apprehend wanted individuals.”

The operation resulted in the arrest of the suspect, identified as A.J. The suspect had reportedly opened a café without official permits and employed Syrian women without valid residency or passports.

Preliminary investigations, according to the source, revealed that the suspect had been “coercing the women to work under exploitative conditions”, violating their basic human rights.

Since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011, Iraq has become a refuge for a significant number of Syrian nationals seeking safety. As of June 2024, Iraq hosted over 300,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, with approximately 90% originating from Syria.

Many of these refugees have been facing challenges such as limited access to quality healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, including working with lower salaries.