July 2007 to resume hearing appeals of Iraqi cases and gave priority to certain Iraqi cases before the Appeals Committee. In fact, the cases the Appeals Committee heard were overwhelmingly old cases, mostly of Christians who had been living in Greece long before the war started.52 The prioritization of old Iraqi cases in the appeals procedure has had a somewhat distorting effect on recent asylum statistics. Out of the 6,000 cases the Appeals Committee heard in 2007, it recommended granting asylum to 140, of whom 107 were Iraqis—and all of those were Christians who had applied for asylum prior to the beginning of the war in 2003.53 Iraqis living in Greece generally would prefer not to seek asylum in Greece and those who opt for Greece usually do so only because there are no other options. Determining the nationality of Iraqis at all can be quite a challenge.54 Many Iraqis are afraid to disclose their true nationality out of fear that Iraqis are more likely to be deported than other nationalities. Many claim that they are Palestinians, a group that cannot be deported. One, who at first told Human Rights Watch that his nationality was Palestinian, added with a wink, “Sometimes you have to lie to survive.”55 Ironically, however, in the past six months, as the freeze on processing Iraqi appeals cases has been lifted and Iraqi claims are being granted, an increasing number of Arabic speakers who are not Iraqis are now claiming to be Iraqis.56 Despite the almost universal preference of Iraqis not to seek asylum in Greece, Human Rights Watch interviews with scores of Iraqis in Greece revealed many with strong claims for refugee status, including kidnapping and torture victims, people with close relatives and associates who had been targeted and killed, and members of groups subjected to persecution. 52 Human Rights Watch interview with Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, head of office for Greece, and Kalliopi Stefanaki, protection officer, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Athens, May 22, 2008 (UNHCR-Athens). 53 The asylum statistics are from Kordatos, Secretariat of Public Order, May 22, 2008. The statistics on Iraqis and Iraqi Christians, in particular, is from Human Rights Watch interview with Tsarbopoulos and Stefanaki, UNHCR-Athens, May 22, 2008. 54 See Methodology and Scope, above, for how Human Rights Watch assessed the nationality of interviewees claiming to be Iraqis. 55 Human Rights Watch interview (name withheld, B-108), Edirne, June 13, 2008. 56 Human Rights Watch interview with Panagiotis Papadimitriou, attorney, Greek Council for Refugees, May 22, 2008. 29 Human Rights Watch November 2008