Over 100 Afghans in Croydon protest against deportations – Inside Croydon

The mass protest: more than 100 Afghans gathered in front of Lunar House. Some served with British forces in Afghanistan but now face possible deportation to Rwanda after attending the Home Office immigration centre, Lunar House.

A crowd of more than 100 Afghan refugees gathered outside the Home Office Lunar House in Croydon town center today to protest against the government’s deportation policy to Rwanda.

The protesters include some who served in the British army, usually as translators, during the conflict in Afghanistan and were forced to flee their home country for fear of certain death at the hands of the Taliban.

The protest follows earlier efforts by various human rights groups to prevent forced detention at Lunar House of those seeking refugee status, when some refugees were believed to have been removed before being flown in – at a massive cost to taxpayers – in Central Africa.

“This mass gathering of vulnerable people is intolerable,” said one protester. They described them as “conservative deportations by stealth”.

Earlier, among those detained and then transported from the Home Office immigration center at Lunar House were Kurds seeking asylum in Iran – a regime notorious for punishing minority groups.

Today’s protest focused on the plight of Afghans who fled the Taliban following 20 years of British and American military action in their home country.

One of the speakers at the protest was Qamar Jabarkhyl, a civil engineer and British citizen of Afghan origin.

Jabarkhyl says he is part of a campaign that has support from human rights groups including Amnesty International and the Red Cross.

“The decision to transfer to Rwanda Afghan refugees, especially those who served as soldiers and provided crucial support to NATO forces from 2001-2021, carries with it a multitude of potential negative consequences,” Jabarkhyl said.

“This move not only raises serious humanitarian concerns, but also poses significant risks to the safety, well-being and integration prospects of these brave people.”

Jabarkhyl and the protesters argue that, regardless of the change in British law to state that Rwanda is a safe country, it really isn’t.

He said: “The transfer of Afghan refugees to Rwanda may undermine their access to legal protection and asylum rights. Rwanda, like many countries, may lack robust legal frameworks and refugee protection mechanisms, leaving Afghan refugees vulnerable to exploitation, discrimination and human rights abuses.

“Reports by humanitarian organizations and human rights groups raise legitimate concerns about conditions in some Rwandan refugee camps. Overcrowded courts, inadequate access to basic services and lack of protection underscore the urgent need for a reassessment of current policies.

“The safety and well-being of refugees must come first.

“The decision to resettle refugees in Rwanda reflects a wider trend of outsourcing the responsibility of refugee protection to countries that are not equipped to handle such tasks.

“We understand that the migrant crisis in the UK is out of control and should be controlled. However, those Afghans who worked alongside British armed forces in Afghanistan should be spared deportation to Rwanda. Taliban extremists are violent towards Afghan Republican soldiers and face direct threats from the barbaric Taliban regime.

Speaking: among the protesters was an eloquent teenager making speeches

“Since August 2021, vulnerable Afghan soldiers have either been killed by the Taliban or left Afghanistan for European countries to take refuge. Those who reached the UK for safety now face relocation to Rwanda. This is unacceptable as they have bravely supported NATO forces to fight terrorism in Afghanistan. Now is the time when the UK Government should show them appreciation for their commitment.”

The transfer of Afghan refugees to Rwanda could have negative repercussions on Britain’s international reputation, Jabarkhyl said. “As a country that prides itself on its commitment to human rights, humanitarian principles and international law, the UK’s decision to transfer Afghan refugees to Rwanda can be seen as a betrayal of these values ​​and a failure to fulfill its moral obligations to those who risked. their lives to support British forces in Afghanistan.

“By standing in solidarity with refugees and upholding our shared values ​​of compassion and justice, we can create a world where all individuals are treated with dignity, respect and humanity.”

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