Press release The unlawful Rwanda asylum plan and its adverse impact on refugee situations.

20 January 2024        

“No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” European convention on human rights – Article 3

On 18 January 2024, the British parliament approved a controversial bill that would enable the country to deport refugees arriving in the UK to Rwanda. Refugees are people who have fled their countries to avoid conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought refuge in another country. Insecurity, destruction of property and equipment, disruption of essential social services, and widespread breaches of human rights. These refugees often flee their own country via dangerous routes “escaping from danger looking for a safer future”.

The Rwanda asylum plan is an immigration policy proposed by the British government. Anyone who arrives in the UK unlawfully would risk being deported to Rwanda. In other words, people whom the United Kingdom identifies as illegal immigrants or asylum seekers would be relocated to Rwanda to process their asylum and resettlement applications.

This shameful inhumane policy is unlawful; all human beings must be treated in a humane and dignified manner. According to the law, the United Kingdom’s highest court has found that Rwanda is not a safe third country for the government to send asylum seekers. This inhumane Rwanda policy is not supported by the European Court of Human Rights. According to article 33 of the convention relating to the status of refugees: No Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.

The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees – IFIR calls on all freedom loving people, working class, human and refugee rights organisations to keep opposing the UK government’s illegal Rwanda asylum policy.

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