Sold by brokers in the Middle East, 3 Rakhine women granted asylum by Iraqi govt

Among four young Rakhine  women, who were sold in the Middle East, three have been granted asylum by the Iraqi government after four months.

The last  woman to be granted asylum is  Ma Than New Htay (25 years old). Earlier  Ma Hani Tun (22) and Ma Wai Wei alias  Myat Aye San (26) were offered asylum there.

The host, who accepted Than New Htay  on 4 October, informed that he was assigned by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from Iraq.

After they got asylum, now feel safe and secure, said a female lawyer Daw Wyand Thuza, who serves as a legal adviser to Rakhine National Network.

The previous owner of  Than New Htay drove away her for two hours and abandoned her on the road. She took help of a minor Iraqi boy and to reach his residence. Initially, the host was reluctant to  accept her.

She could communicate with the Cairo Myanmar embassy for help.

Finally  she got the contact for  IOM office in Iraq that helped her to get the asylum. The fourth victim Ma Win Win Hlaing (22) was sold in Dubai.

Currently, owner of the house where Hani Tun was staying is being investigated by the Iraqi police, revealed  lawyer Wyand Thuza.

"The police have been investigating the owner of  house where Hani Tun stayed. She informed the  Iraqi police about the treatment she faced there,” the lawyer added.

She added that Win Win Hlaing was trafficked from Saudi Arabia to Dubai on 28 August. The concerned  embassy will be able to protect her through a responsible channel.

"As Dubai is no longer in the IOM operated area, it becomes impossible to help her. So we are working  along with the embassy officials," she added.

The victim women hail from  Sittwe, Ponna Kyunt, Rathedaung and Mrauk U of  Rakhine State. The brokers   from Sittwe lured them with works in beauty salons of  Dubai and finally  sold in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Over 80 Burmese women have been sold as they arrived in the Middle East by the brokers, claimed an individual who works in  a Myanmarese agency based in Oman.

No information is available how may of them are Rakhine, but their ages are estimated to be 20 to 30 years.

Due to the extreme poverty and scarcity of  employment opportunities under the military rule in the country, a large number of young Myanmarese women, including many from Rakhine State, try their luck for works in foreign countries with the help of brokers, but often they are being sold in the Middle East.