HELSINKI, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- The asylum application of an Iraqi man who was reportedly killed after being deported to Iraq had gone through all legal proceedings in Finland, Finnish Minister of the Interior Kai Mykkanen said on Monday.

At the press conference after he officially took office, the newly appointed Minister of Interior said that the case is sad and tragic, but it was not considered for non-refoulement when the Finnish Migration Service, Migri, made the decision.

"International protection is based specifically on the assumption that an individual faces persecution in the region to return. In this case, it has been estimated that sufficient grounds have not been met," Mykkanen said.

Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported earlier on Monday that a 46-year-old former Iraqi policeman, who had received a negative asylum decision in Finland, was shot dead in Baghdad three weeks after returning to Iraq.

The man arrived in Finland and sought asylum in autumn 2015, and he was deported to Iraq in November 2017. He was killed by three gunshots in Baghdad on Dec. 17, 2017.

According to a security report conducted by Migri, Baghdad is currently safe for returning asylum seekers.

When asked whether the Migri's assessment of Iraq was correct at the press conference, the minister pointed out that the Ministry of the Interior cannot direct immigration officials on how to conduct a security assessment.

Mykkanen claimed that Finland's policy with respect to security reviews of Iraq is very similar to that of Sweden. The safety assessments are evaluated periodically.

"Of course, it is important for us to have the best possible information available so that we can make accurate and balanced assessments," he added.