Why are we not being encouraged to take in Iranian refugees?

[BeardofHagrid]

Pretty much as soon as the Ukraine war started we were encouraged by the government to take Ukrainian refugees into our homes. Why has this not been mentioned in regard to the war on Iran?

We're not an ally of Iran

We weren’t an ally of Ukraine until the day they were invaded. Taking in Iranian citizens would make more sense due to our historical ties to the country.

Because they’re mostly brown and Muslim

How are they going to get here?

We've been an ally of Ukraine since the early 1990s.

That doesn’t explain why progressive circles aren’t pushing for us to take Iranian refugees.

The numerous wealthy gulf states never seem willing to help, but they should be the first place of refuge.

I only ever heard Ukraine being described as “the most corrupt country in Europe”, never as an ally.

Id guess there's a higher chance of people claiming to be refugees from Iran and then attacking us on our soil if we take them in. Iranians may see us as complicit in American attacks on their country and take it out on us, it would be difficult to work out who the true refugees were. With Iran we are not strong allies with Russia who were the aggressors, so Ukrainians didn't pose as much of a risk. Of course there will be the racists and 'stop the boat' people who just think that being brown should disqualify them from being allowed to seek safety here

We've had diplomatic relations with Ukraine since 1992. It's a formal status, not a matter of opinion.

But you've got Google at your fingertips, so what you hear and what you can actually learn are two different things.

Werent an ally of Ukraine. Are you sure about that?

Ukraine is an official candidate state for EU membership and was working really hard to do the reforms required for entering.
Ukraine is trying to join NATO.
Both intentions have support of some other European countries.

Yes, the UK brexited, but still has an interest in what happens in continental Europe.

Maybe it isn't about being super interested in Ukraine as such, but about opposing Russia. If Russia wasn't stopped in Ukraine, it would attack other countries - EU and NATO members, which would be require bigger involvement. Helping Ukraine a bit means being able to use them as a shield against Putin.

No country can take refugees from all conflicts in the world. Starting with one's own continent makes some sense.

Unfortunately, we see at Gaza that muslim states in the immediate region, while verbally supporting them, didn't offer to take anyone.

Refugee from what, their government or from the usa bombing them?

Because then we’d have to admit that America and Israel are as bad as Russia and there’s no way that’s going to happen.

I imagine some people would like refuge from both

Because of all the protesting that came, the racism and now with the extreme cost of living crisis the backlash would be crippling

Iranians aren’t displaced at the moment. But we’ve had a stream of educated Iranians arriving legally for the last 47 years and uneducated Iranians arriving illegally for the last decade.

If you have a spare room, please do offer it via Refugees At Home

https://refugeesathome.org/

There are many Iranians in the UK and some experience destitution and need housing support. Iranian was the most common nationality claiming asylum in the UK over the last 10 years.

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/commentaries/iranian-migration-to-the-uk-in-7-charts/

Have you taken in refugees? Which nationality?

Because it’s pot luck on getting decent peace loving ones or murderous regime supporters. Not a chance I’m willing to take, things are bad enough here already.

I thought I read that a lot of people had problems with some of the Ukrainian refugees anyway, couldnt get rid of them sort of thing. Cant remember the details now but there were threads about it on this and other forums

It makes much more sense for people to go to neighbouring and allied countries than to random places all over the world. It’s not a radical or racist idea that you should help your neighbours first.

Lebanon has one the highest number of refugees, and now they are being bombed by Israel, displacing even more people. Who is going to help them?