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Public Law Solicitors
Duncan Lewis Diego Garcia Clients Speak of 'Inhumane' Conditions in our Latest Media Coverage (13 December 2024)
Date: 13/12/2024
Clients represented by Duncan Lewis Solicitors have shared their harrowing experiences of living in appalling conditions on Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Kala and Nishanth (names changed to protect identities) were among more than 60 migrants stranded on the remote island for over three years, caught in a complex web of legal disputes and challenges.
The group, which included 12 children, had fled persecution in Sri Lanka and India. After being rescued from the waters near the Chagos Archipelago in October 2021, they expected a brief stay on Diego Garcia. Instead, they endured years in what have been described as "inhumane" conditions in a makeshift camp.
The migrants lived in cramped tarpaulin tents plagued by rats, with limited facilities and persistent issues of safety and hygiene. Hunger strikes, reports of sexual harassment, and inadequate responses to complaints marked their time on the island. Some migrants, already victims of torture in their home countries, were driven to self-harm and suicide attempts during their prolonged detention.
Thanks to persistent legal advocacy, the migrants with the exception of those with criminal convictions have now been relocated to the UK, where they have six months to file asylum claims. The UK government described their relocation as a "one-off measure," citing Diego Garcia as unsuitable for long-term accommodation.
Maria Petrova-Collins, of Duncan Lewis Solicitors, praised the clients' resilience and expressed hope that the case would set a precedent for handling future crises with greater compassion and efficiency.
Check out our coverage here:
Yahoo - www.yahoo.com/news/tamil-migrants-reach-uk-darkest-063712708.html
France 24 - www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241211-tamil-migrants-reach-uk-after-darkest-time-in-chagos-camp
Barrons – www.barrons.com/news/tamil-migrants-reach-uk-after-darkest-time-in-chagos-camp-5f2f01b1 (article behind paywall)
Maria Petrova-Collins is a solicitor in the award-winning Public Law team at Duncan Lewis Solicitors. She specialises in immigration and public law, focusing on judicial review cases that challenge wrongful government policies. Maria has extensive experience in asylum, human rights, and detention matters, representing clients at all stages of their international protection claims.
For advice in any public law matter contact Maria via email at mariap@duncanlewis.com or by telephone on 0203 114 1310.
Our Public Law Team
Duncan Lewis’ Public Law team, ranked in Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 UK directories, has a broad practice representing both privately and publicly funded (legal aid) clients in matters involving immigration; asylum and human rights and deportation matters, with a niche practice in immigration and civil liberties claimant judicial review matters. They have significant practice in challenging delays in Home Office decision-making, unlawful immigration detention cases with high net claims for damages and challenging immigration removal decisions, particularly third country removal cases.
The Legal 500 recognises Duncan Lewis' public law team as a 'Top-Tier' department in respect of its immigration and human rights work. With over 160 specialist Immigration lawyers nationwide, we bring the highest level of expertise to all immigration matters. The department has a number of highly skilled lawyers who have trained as barristers, and undertake complex appeal cases up to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.