From Justice Gap

Ten people from conflict zones seeking asylum in the UK were granted permission on Tuesday to appeal the Home Office’s decision to deport them to Rwanda. The asylum seekers claim the Home Office failed to consider the dangers and risks posed to their safety if deported.

The UK’s refugee removal deal with Rwanda has been widely criticised. Under the arrangement, Rwanda will accept asylum seekers for permanent settlement who arrive in the UK illegally but it prevents refugees from legally challenging their deportation. Successful asylum seekers will only be able to reside in Rwanda, instead of the UK, where they first claimed asylum and had hoped to find safety.

Despite its humanitarian aim to prevent human trafficking, there are concerns about the morality of the policy. Rwanda’s human rights abuses and the general poor protection of refugees’ rights have been raised to the High Court by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). These were considered by the High Court during Tuesday’s permission hearing; and were said to have been ignored by ministers and government officials.

Solicitor Sophie Lucas welcomed the court’s decision to grant permission to appeal. Lucas said, “The Rwanda policy is not compatible with fundamental human rights afforded to asylum seekers under the European convention on human rights, to which the UK was the first signatory and the refugee convention.”

Natalie St Pierre-Jubb,

Justice Gap website… https://www.thejusticegap.com/category/immigration/