Guidance

Information pack for British prisoners in Kurdistan region of Iraq

Updated 19 April 2023

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, and is not a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage, or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. The information contained in this guide is general and factual. You should contact local lawyers for independent legal advice.

Chapter 1: Key points

Overview

If you are a British national, and are arrested or detained in another country, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, we cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. Information about who we can help, including the circumstances in which we can assist dual nationals, is available at: Support for British nationals abroad. You can also request a paper copy from consular staff. You can also request a paper copy from consular staff.

This information pack is designed to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Kurdistan and who can help. Consular staff can provide a printed copy to those in prison or in custody. We welcome feedback to help us improve the information we can provide to others.

Contacting us

If you are arrested or detained in another country:

• the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact the British embassy or consulate (and must do so if you want them to)
• if they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. You should do this if you are charged with a serious offence or need any kind of assistance
• friends or family can also contact the local British embassy or consulate or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

In some countries, the authorities might notify the British embassy or consulate even if you don’t want anyone to know that you have been arrested. This is because there may be an agreement in place with the British Government which requires a mandatory notification to be made.

Who we are

Consular staff work in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London, and in British embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas.

British Consulate General Erbil:

Tel: +44 (0) 1908 516666

Website: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-consulate-general-erbil

Address: British Consulate General, Rotana Hotel, Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

You can also contact us by phone 24/7 for help or advice from anywhere in the world by calling the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office on 020 7008 5000.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help. When we are notified of your arrest or detention, we will aim to contact you as soon as possible, so that we can assess how we can help you. We then aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions. Our priority is to provide assistance to those British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

In Kurdistan, notification by the authorities to the Consulate normally takes place several weeks after arrest. Friends or relations may inform us much more quickly.

Once we are notified, we aim to contact you as soon as possible.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters
• provide general information about the country, detention conditions, and the local legal system (including if legal aid is available)
• provide general information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, and welfare services
• keep in regular contact with you, either by visiting or by telephone/letter. The frequency of contact will depend on local conditions and your personal circumstances
• tell the police or prison doctor, with your permission, about any medical or dental problems including medication
• put you, or your family, in touch with a prisoners’ welfare charity called Prisoners Abroad
• in some circumstances we may be able to help take up complaints with the police or prison authorities about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination, if you are not treated in line with internationally recognised standards
• help to transfer money to you from your friends or family. In places where phone or postal services aren’t available, we can also pass on messages and deliver letters to the prison (but generally we cannot arrange for delivery directly to you)
• In some circumstances we may be able to help you apply for a transfer to a prison in the UK

What we cannot do

• get you out of prison or detention
• help you get special treatment because you are British
• offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime
• pay for any costs as a result of being arrested
• forward you packages sent by friends or family
• prevent authorities from deporting you after release

First steps

Informing family members

If you want us to, we can tell your family or friends that you have been detained and can provide them with information about how to contact you. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your wellbeing.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider what the impact of not doing so might be. For example, it may cause them distress if they do not know where you are, or cannot contact you. It can also be a disadvantage to you if you need someone to send you money or act on your behalf while you are detained.

Informing the UK police

If you are accused of certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. Information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances when information about you may need to be shared with authorities in Kurdistan.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give legal advice, start legal proceedings, or investigate a crime. However, we can provide information about the local legal system, including whether a legal aid scheme is available. We can also give you a list of local interpreters and a list of local English-speaking lawyers. You should consider the benefits of local legal representation and discuss all the costs beforehand with the legal representative. We cannot pay your legal or interpretation costs in any circumstance.

Consular assistance: fair treatment

We cannot get you out of prison or detention, or get you special treatment because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider whether to approach the local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.

Other organisations that can provide assistance

We can put you, or your family, in touch with Prisoners Abroad, a UK charity which supports British citizens detained overseas and their families.

Chapter 2: Detention conditions in Iraq

Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

You should consult FCDO travel advice before travelling to Kurdistan for the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

You are allowed visits by friends and family. Visits must be authorised in advance by the Ministry of Justice. The Consulate General can make a formal written request on behalf of anyone who wants to visit you; this needs to be submitted at least one month in advance. You are allowed one visit a month.

What to expect when you visit

Where the visit takes place (e.g. a meeting room or communal area) will vary depending on the prison you’re being held at. Visitors will be searched upon arrival. The visit might be supervised, but might not be, depending on the prison’s regulations. The visit date and time will be by agreement with the prison management.

What you can take on your visit

Visitors are not allowed to bring any items in to prison. There may be dispensation for foreign prisoners, but this would need to be given by the Ministry of Justice in advance. Visitors to detention centres would need to check in advance with the centre management to agree what items may be taken for the prisoner.

Visits: Consular staff

A member of our consular staff will aim to contact you (by telephone or in person) within 24 hours of notification of your arrest. We will try to visit you as soon as possible afterwards, ideally within 48 hours, as long as it is safe for us to travel and we obtain the necessary approval from the Kurdistan authorities. We may also try to contact you by phone.

If you are remanded in custody, we will visit you as necessary. If you are found guilty of an offence and given a custodial sentence we will aim to visit within the first week of your imprisonment and then as necessary after that, depending on your circumstances and vulnerability.

Emergency trips outside of prison

Trips outside of prisons for emergencies are not permitted.

Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arrival at the police station and basic rights

In Kurdistan you do not have the right to make a telephone call when you are arrested. You should ask that the British Consulate General be informed as soon as possible.

If you wish to make a telephone call yourself you must apply to the detention officer for permission.

A law-officer can only arrest you if they have reasonable suspicion that you have been involved in a criminal offence or they have a judicial order for your arrest. You must not resist or act violently even if you believe you are innocent.

You have a right:

• to know why you have been arrested or detained
• to remain silent which means you do not have to answer any questions asked of you By a law officer
• to legal representation, which must be provided free of charge if you cannot afford to pay for it
• to be able to contact your family
• to expect to be treated with dignity and without violence or intimidation. You are innocent until the law officers prove you guilty

Your details must be registered at the place where you are held. Your family should be notified without delay and be allowed to see you unless this is not permitted for reasons of security.

You should be given access to legal representation even if you can’t afford to pay. You must be seen by an Investigative Judge within 24 hours of arrest: they will decide whether you should be released or detained.

You should be held in secure but safe and decent accommodation with access to nutritional food, water, light, clean bedding, ventilation and exercise. You should be treated with dignity, fairly and equally no matter your gender, ethnicity, religion or status.

You should not be subject to, or threatened with, torture, physical violence, psychological stress or any other form of physical, emotional, or psychological punishment or coercion. It is a crime for a law-officer to ill-treat you.

You can ask to see a doctor.

Appearance at court

You will be taken to a court to see a judge, normally on the same day or next working day after your arrest (Friday and Saturday are the weekend in Kurdistan). You should be given access to legal representation even if you can’t afford to pay. If you don’t speak Kurdish, an interpreter should be appointed to assist.

More information about the Kurdistan judicial system can be found in Chapter 3.

Initial arrival at the prison

In prison detention, convicted prisoners and those on remand should be held separately, as should women and children unless of a single family group.

You will be medically examined by a doctor and will meet the prison psychologist. You should tell the doctor if you take any medication. You will be issued with a prison uniform and bedding before being taken to your cell, which may be shared with other prisoners.

Prison: conditions and daily life

Prisons can be run by different ministries – Justice, Interior or Defence. There is a considerable difference in standard between prisons, with those run by the Ministry of Justice being the highest. Those administered by the Ministries of the Interior or Defence are harder to access and less is known about them.

Over-crowding is a problem, even at facilities run by the Ministry of Justice. They are addressing problems, but issues such as overcrowding, poor sanitation, poor ventilation and pre-trial separation remain.

Accommodation

Prison accommodation varies depending on the prison facility you are being held at. Over-crowding is common. Prisoners usually sleep on mattresses on the floor.

Food and diet

The prison provides three meals per day. Breakfast typically consists of eggs, cheese and bread. Lunch is a meat, or fish, dish with rice and vegetables. Dinner is similar to lunch. Bottled water is also provided.

Work and study

The Ministry of Justice in Kurdistan has increased the number of opportunities for education and vocational training in some prisons. Most prisons have sewing and computer workshops, although with limited equipment, in addition to literacy classes and basic education courses.

Libraries often have little beyond religious literature.

Contact and Languages

Contact with other inmates depends on the regulations of the facility you are in. Some prisons have a general common room with a television.

You will not have access to phones. You must apply to the Detention Officer for permission to make a call. Calls are permitted every two weeks but this can vary depending on the facility you are in.

Guards are unlikely to speak English.

Exercise

You will be allowed out of your cell daily to walk about in a designated area. Some prisons have a gym.

Climate

The climate of Kurdistan is characterised by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters.

Religion

You should be allowed to practice your religion.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

The prison medical centre can issue medication to prisoners. Recreational drugs are not allowed in prisons in Kurdistan.

Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

There are two ways in which you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison.

• Private Funds: Deposited to you by your family or friends
• Prisoners Abroad: depending on where you are detained, if your family can’t support you financially, Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials (enough for one hot meal a day)

The UK Government does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Private funds

While the FCDO does not provide financial assistance to prisoners, we may be able, within certain limits, to send you money from your family. Please note that you cannot have cash sent to you in the post.

The FCDO operates a “Prison Comfort” system for money transfers to prisoners. Ask your family or friends to get in touch with the FCDO to arrange this.

We are unable to receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

Prisoners Abroad

Prisoners Abroad, may be able to assist you with funding for prison essentials and some medical care if you are not receiving regular funding from other sources. Prisoners in Kurdistan may be eligible for two Prisoners Abroad Funds (the Craig Feehan Fund and the Medical Fund).

Medical and Dental treatment

While you are detained, Kurdistan is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met. If you need medical or dental treatment you should ask to see the prison doctor or dentist. Medication will be provided.

Most prisons have a hospital where you would be treated in an emergency.

All medication brought by visitors to prison will be checked and approved by medical staff before being given to the prisoner.

With your permission, we can make sure that any medical or dental problems you might have are brought to the attention of any police or prison doctor. We can also liaise with your GP in the UK, if the police or prison doctor requests previous medical records and this is in your vital interests.

Letters and parcels

Family and friends can send mail and parcels directly to the prison. Prison authorities will check the contents before handing it over. The postal service in KRI is slow, it may take months for mail to be delivered.

Telephone calls

You should speak to the Detention Officer for permission. Calls are permitted every one to two weeks, but this can vary depending on the facility you are in.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

If you have been mistreated, you should inform Consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you, to check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and explain any local complaints procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you have not been treated in line with internationally-accepted standards. If you have been mistreated, try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and if possible photos of the injuries you received.

If you have a complaint about your treatment you can complain to:

• the most senior officer in the place where you are detained
• your lawyer
• the Investigating Judge when you are taken before him/her
• staff of the Ministry for Human Rights who carry out detention centre monitoring

You must be permitted to speak to these people out of the hearing of the detention officers.

Chapter 3: The KRI judicial system

Overview

The law in Kurdistan is not like UK law, because it requires confessions to be corroborated by other evidence, or rejected where allegations of coercion are substantiated, but that is not always the case in court.

The death penalty remains an option for conviction under crimes of terrorism and murder.

There are often lengthy delays before and during trials because of lack of resources.

The FCDO cannot interfere with the judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you are British, or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

First steps

What to expect after arrest

After an Investigative Judge issues an arrest warrant, you should appear within 24 hours before a judge and be informed of the allegations against you. At this time you should be advised of your right to remain silent and of your right to counsel. This process is also known as the initial hearing or notification of investigation.

A panel of Investigative Judges conducts a private investigation by examining the facts of the case. The panel can range in number from one to several.

A single Investigative Judge considers the merits of the case and issues either a referral of the case to trial or a dismissal of the charges.

Ask to call +44(0)1908 516666 and inform them about your detention centre name.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See list of local English-speaking lawyers.

How long you can be remanded in custody

Under the Criminal Procedure Code, if you are arrested for criminal charges you can be held for up to 24 hours, extendable to 72 hours, before being formally indicted and presented to the court. Then you should be transferred to a detention facility of the Ministry of Justice.

The Criminal Procedure Code provides an exception for persons accused of capital crimes. Conviction under certain articles of the Anti-Terrorism Law carry the death penalty. Investigating prosecutors and judges can order the detention of suspects for six months, renewable almost indefinitely.

After you are charged

When you are charged you will go before the court. You should be given access to legal representation even if you can’t afford to pay. If you don’t speak Kurdish, an interpreter should be appointed to assist.

You should never sign anything written in a language you do not understand. If you find yourself under pressure to sign, ask to speak to the British Consulate.

Bail

In certain cases, if the judge is satisfied that your release will not lead to your escape, and will not prejudice the investigation, you may be granted bail.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

If you wish to hire a private lawyer, see list of local English-speaking lawyers for a list of English-speaking lawyers. Prisoners Abroad can also supply general (non-country specific) information on legal aid, court proceedings, and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

You are entitled to a high standard of legal assistance. If you request it, your lawyer should come to assist you with your case at the police station, court, and in prison if you are in prison custody. You can ask to see your lawyer and they should be contacted by the officer in charge of your detention or the court. If you are convicted your lawyer must advise you on your rights of appeal.

You have the right to have your lawyer present at all times when you appear before a judge, prosecutor, police investigator or any other law enforcement officer. If, contrary to your request, you appear before any of them without your lawyer being present, you can refuse to answer any questions and can ask for your lawyer. You must be provided with the opportunity, time and facilities to prepare your case with your lawyer. Your meeting with your lawyer is confidential and should be held out of the hearing of anyone else.

If you have complaints about your lawyer you should tell the judge. You or someone on your behalf can also complain to the Bar Association in your town.

The British Embassy cannot pay legal fees or guarantee a lawyer that you will pay them. Consular staff cannot give legal advice.

Trial

A panel of one or three trial chamber judges hears the case in public. After the trial, the trial chamber reaches a judgement of either guilty or not guilty. If not guilty, the accused is released. If guilty, sentencing takes place.

Sentences

Under Kurdistan law, there are set penalties for each type of crime. The judge decides the sentence, taking into account the circumstances of the case.

Appeals

An appeal can be made to the appellate chamber within 30 days, starting from the day after the judgement was made.

Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

You may be given remission of one quarter of your sentence if you demonstrate good behaviour.

Early release

There is no provision for an early release other than reducing the sentence by one quarter as mentioned above.

Clemency or pardon

Under Kurdistan law, there is provision for clemency but certain crimes are exempt such as conviction under terrorism, financial corruption and honour killings.

The President of Kurdistan can authorise a pardon.

Financial penalties

There are no financial penalties if a prisoner is released earlier by clemency or pardon.

Transfer to another prison within Kurdistan

It is possible. We can make a request through the Department for Foreign Relations. However, it can take a considerable time to receive a reply.

Transfer to the UK

There is a Prisoner Transfer Agreement between the UK and Iraq. British nationals who have been convicted in Kurdistan Region of Iraq are able to request a transfer if they meet the conditions below.

To transfer, you must:

• be a British citizen or have close family ties with the UK (normally through permanent residence in the UK)
• not be awaiting trial
• have exhausted all appeals against your conviction and/or the length of your sentence; or have waived your right to an appeal
• have at least 6 months of your sentence left to serve when you apply for transfer
• have no outstanding fines or other non-custodial penalties

The offence you were convicted for must also be a criminal offence in the part of the UK you wish to be transferred to: England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The authorities in the sentencing country may refuse your request. Even if the sentencing country agrees to your transfer, the UK authorities may also refuse your request. Reasons for this might include if you have not lived in the UK for a number of years and you have no close family residents there.

We can submit a transfer request on your behalf to the Ministry of Justice in Kurdistan. It can take a considerable time to receive a reply.

Release and deportation

After serving your sentence you will be released. You will not be deported, and if you wish to stay, then you can stay, if you have a valid residency permit and visa. If you wish to leave Kurdistan, then you may do so.

Sometimes people find that they face difficulties adjusting to life in the UK once they have left prison. You may find yourself ready for life on the outside but not prepared for living in the UK. You may not have lived in the UK before and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may simply want to talk to another person who understands what you have been through, to help you consider what to do next.

If you are registered with Prisoners Abroad you can visit Prisoners Abroad when you first arrive back in UK for advice, to use their temporary luggage store, make essential phone calls or use a computer. If you have no belongings Prisoners Abroad may be able to help with basic toiletries and finding suitable clothing. If you know your release date in advance you should tell the Prisoner and family Support Team when you are likely to arrive and what help you think you might need. If you have no money and nowhere to go, Prisoners Abroad’s Aftercare Service can help with:

• advice on finding emergency accommodation in the London area
• claiming welfare benefits, including emergency benefit payments if you are destitute
• making appointments with doctors and dentists
• putting you in touch with local agencies if you are not returning to the London area

Later on you may want advice on housing, looking for work, applying for training or getting counselling. Prisoners Abroad can refer you to the right agency.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army:

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888

Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship:

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7799 2500

Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm

Your criminal record in the UK

We will not normally pass on information about your case to a third party without your consent. However, if you’re arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drugs crimes, our staff must tell other relevant UK authorities. It is therefore possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned abroad. It is the only UK charity providing this service. It is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or awaiting charge or trial. Prisoners Abroad supports your health and welfare, both during your imprisonment. It can also provide support on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family when you are in prison. To access any services, you must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer will vary from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner
• issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• getting magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translation of documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and do not have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you do not have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and, in a few cases, assistance with the cost of visiting
• Freepost envelopes to help you stay in touch with others

Prisoners Abroad

UK Helpline: +44 (0)20 7561 6820 or +44 (0)808 172 0098

Mondays to Fridays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (UK time)

89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Chapter 4: Additional Information

Glossary of terms

Useful terms

English	Sounds like (Arabic)	Written (Kurdish)
Amnesty / Pardon	Afou	ببورە
Appeal	Istinaf	تێهەڵچوونەوە
Application form	Talab	فۆرمی داواکاری
Bathroom	Hammaam	سەراو/ توالێت
Blanket	Battaniya	بەتانی
Blood test	Fahs dam	فەحسی خوێن
Book	Kitab	کتێب
Case	Kadiya	دۆسیە
Case number	Rakam al Kadiya	ژمارەی دۆسیە
Central Prison	Al Sejin Al Markazi	بەندینخانەی ناوەندی
Clinic	Eyada	کلینیک/ نۆرینگە
Complaint	Shakwa	شکایەت
Court	Mahkama	دادگا
Deportation	Ibaad	دیپۆرت کردنەوە
Deposit	Amanat	سپاردە
Doctor	Tabeeb	پزیشک/ دکتۆر
Embassy	Safara	سەفارەت/ باڵیۆزخانە
Federal Supreme Court	Al Mahkama Al Itihadiya	دادگای فیدرالی
Food	Taam	خواردن
Guilty	Mouznib	تاوانبار
Hearing session	Jalsat Istimaa	دانیشتنی دادگا
Indictment	Al Touhma	تۆمەت
Innocent	Barei	بێتاوان
Interpreter	Moutarjem	وەرگێڕ
Jail	Sejin	بەندیخانە/زیندان
Judgement	Mouhakama	دادگایی کردن
Lawyer	Mouhami	پارێزەر
Library	Maktaba	کتێبخانە
Money	Feloos	پارە
No problem	Ma fi Moushkila	کێشە نیە
Notary	Kateb Adel	دادنووس
Plaintiff	Al Moudaii	داواکار
Police	Shurta	پۆلیس
Power of attorney	Wakala	بریکارنامە
Prison Director	Mudir Al Sejin	بەرێوبەری بەندیخانە/زیندان
Prison rules	Kanoun Al Sejin	یاسای بەندیخانە/زیندان
Problem	Mushkila	کێشە
Prosecutor	Niyaba	داواکاری گشتی
Release	Efraj	ئازاد کردن
Security	Amn	ئاسایش
Sentence	Oukouba	سزا
Sentence	Al Hokom	حوکم
Sharia Court	Al Mahkama Al Shariaa	دادگای شەرعی
Sick	Mareed	نەخۆش
Soap	Saboon	سابوون
Telephone call	Moukalamat telephone	پەیوەندی تەلەفۆنی
The accused	Al Mutaham	تاوانبار
To buy	Ashtary	دەکڕم
Tomorrow	Boukra	سبەی
Visit	Zieyara	سەردان
Ward number	Rakam Al Anbar	ژمارەی قاوش
Water	Maa	ئاو
Witness	Shahed	شایەت

Key phrases – English into Arabic/Kurdish

English	Sounds like (Arabic/Kurdish)	Arabic
Hello	Marhaba/Slaw	مرحبا
My name is	Esmy/Nawm	إسمي
Good morning	Sabah Al Khair/Bayani bash	صباح الخير
Good evening	Masaa Al Khair/Ewara bash	مساء الخير
Please	Min fadlak/Tkaya	من فضلك
I don’t know	Ma baaraf/Nazanm	ما يعرف
Thank you	Shokran/Supas	شكرا
I am sorry	Ana asif/Bbura	أنا أسف
How much does this cost?	Kam Youkalif hatha/Am aba chanda	كم يكلف هذا
Yes	Naam/Bale	نعم
No	Laa/Nakher	لأ
Could you write that down for me?	Hal Yomkin an taktob zalek lee/dakre amam bo bnusi tkaya?	هل بمكن ان تكتب ذلك لي
What time is it?	Seaa Baesh/Saat chanda?	ساعة بيش
I am cold	Ana bardan/Sarmama	أنا بردان
I am hot	Ana Har/Garmama	أنا حار
This is urgent	Hatha Aegel/Ama zarurya	هذا عاجل
I want to call the Embassy	Urid alaitisal bilsafara/Amawe paywandi ba safaratawa bkam	أريد ألإتصال بالسفارة
I want to call my lawyer	Urid alaitisal bimouhamiyeh/Amawe paywandi ba parezarakam bkam	أريد ألإتصالة بمحاميً
Can I have some water?	Hal astatieh alhusul eala baed alma’/Dakre tozek awm bdayte?	هل أستطيع الحصول على بعض الماء
I need a doctor	Ahtaj ila tabib/Pewestm ba doctora	أحتاج الى طبيب
I need medication	Ahtaj ila dawa’/Pewestm ba darmana	أحتاج الى دواء
Can I make a phone call?	Momken aamal Itisal hatifi/Dakre telfon bkam?	ممكن اخابر
Can I meet with management?	Momken Aqabal Ahad min Al idara/Dakre lagal edara qsa bkam?	ممكن اقابل احد من الادارة
When am I going to court?	Mata Azhab ila Almahkama/Kay dachma dadga?	متى أذهب الى المحكمة
Can I have my money?	Momkin taatini Falofii/Dakre parakanm bdanawa?	ممكن تعطيني فلوسي
I want to make a complaint	Urid Ashtaki/Damawe shkayat bkam	أريد اشتكي
I am hungry	Ana jooan/Mn brseema	أنا جوعان
I am thirsty	Ana atchan/Mn twneema	أنا عطشان
Water	Maa/Aw	ماء
Juice	Assir/Sharbat	عصير
Bread	Khobz/Nan	خبز
Chicken	Djaj/Mreshk	دجاج
Meat	Lahmeh/Gosht	لحمة
Fruits	Fawakeh/Mewa	فواكة
I am diabetic	Andi sokari/Shakram haya	عندي سكري
I have high blood pressure	Andi daghet dam/Zakhti khwrnm haya	عندي ضغط دم

Annexes

Annex 1: FCDO guidance: Support for British Nationals Abroad

Annex 2: FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

Annex 3: List of English-Speaking Lawyers in Iraq

Annex 4: List of Private Translators/Interpreters

Annex 5: Prisoners Abroad Forms

Annex 6: In prison abroad: transfer to a UK prison

Annex 7: Reprieve information (for death penalty cases only)