Home Office tells Afghan and Yemeni asylum seekers they can return safely (The Guardian) (13 January 2022)

Duncan Lewis is representing a 21-year-old Afghan refugee who was told it is safe for him to return, despite more than 600,000 people fleeing the Taliban since January 2021. The client was 16-years-old when he fled forced conscription by the Taliban and came to the UK. A Home Office letter, dated 15 December 2021, states that the Taliban are now the de facto authorities in Afghanistan. It adds: “It is not considered that they [the Taliban] would still have an adverse interest in a low level person such as you.” Our public law solicitor Jamie Bell said: “In the context of the ever deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, it is deeply concerning that the Home Office have seemingly indicated, without foundation and in breach of their own policies, that Afghanistan may be safe for those who have been previous victims of the Taliban.” A 36-year-old from Yemen and a 25-year-old Syrian asylum seeker have also received similar threats. The Home Office’s own guidance warns of the dangers of returning refugees to countries such as Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen. UNHCR recommends avoiding to forcible returns to all three countries.