Berlin -- The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) criticized Germany on Friday for first recognizing and then withdrawing the refugee status of thousands of people.

In a report prepared for the European Court of Justice, the UNHCR was particularly critical of Germany's practice of giving people refugee status who had already returned to their homeland regardless of the security situation or whether they could live in dignity.

This, the UNHCR argued, was contrary to the rules set out in the Geneva Convention on Refugees and under European law.

Since the Iraq war and the fall of Saddam Hussein more than 17,000 Iraqis have had their refugee status annulled.

This was despite a security situation in Iraq which was characterized by daily attacks as well as precarious living conditions and the lack of an effective authority in some parts of the country.

DPA/Expatica