Taleban refugees 'given asylum priority'
Taleban refugees 'given asylum priority'
Author
Discussion

CarZee

Original Poster:

13,382 posts

295 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-582024,00.html

Taleban refugees 'given asylum priority'

FORMER members of the Taleban seeking political asylum in Britain are being given priority over other Afghans, refugee welfare groups say.

At least 14 former members of the Islamic fundamentalist militia have sought asylum in this country since the regime of Mullah Muhammad Omar was swept away 14 months ago, The Times has discovered.

Three have been granted political asylum status and given permission to remain in the country indefinitely, the Home Office has confirmed.

One of them, Wali Khan Ahmadzai, said in an interview at the weekend that he had escaped from Afghanistan with other militiamen in a fleet of four-wheel-drive vehicles that he believes was bought by Osama bin Laden.

“I live here but I still think America and Britain are enemies of the Afghan people and Muslim people,” he said at his new home, a first-floor flat in West Hampstead, North London. “But I don’t want to fight anymore. I just want the chance to live in peace and safety and to be a good Muslim.”

The 14 former Taleban fighters have all claimed that they fear persecution, or even death, under the new Western-backed Government in Kabul.

Under the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, none can be deported because asylum-seekers cannot be returned to a country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or death.

According to the London-based Society of Afghan Residents, the principal refugee body for Afghans in Britain, young male immigrants are convinced that they are more likely to be granted asylum status if they claim to have fought with the Taleban.

“They can claim that they face a real threat of persecution under the new regime,” Sayed Jan Karwani, a spokesman for the society, said.

“People who were not Talebs cannot make that claim.”

There is even a suspicion that people-smuggling gangs are instructing young Afghans that they should claim “Taleban status” when they arrive in Britain.

Another of the three former Taleban fighters given asylum status is understood to be a 32-year-old militiaman who made his way to Britain despite being shot in two limbs during the war in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks. He is living in Cardiff and is thought to have received legal aid to fund his application.

Mr Ahmadzai, 23, said that he paid people-smugglers the equivalent of £9,375 before embarking on a two-month journey that ended at Ipswich.

“I wanted to come to Britain because I knew that it was a good place to be, that here I would have a good life,” he said. “I left behind my father and brothers and my wife and two children.

“I don’t know where any of my family are, they could be in Pakistan, or they could be dead, but if I could find them I would encourage them to come here.”

The Home Office says that all three former Taleban members were “forcible conscripts”, and that none fought against British or American forces.

Beverley Hughes, the Immigration Minister, told MPs last week that a review of all immigration applications by Afghans since October 2001 showed that “there were three who gave credible accounts of being opposed to the Taleban but having been forcibly conscripted by them.

“All three claimed to have escaped when an opportunity presented itself, and none was engaged in direct combat with British or US ground forces.”

Mr Ahmadzai insists, however, that he did fight against British and American forces, at Dasht-i Archi in northern Afghanistan.

In addition to the three given political asylum, at least 11 former fighters are applying for asylum or appealing against refusal.
Don't think I even need to comment, do I?

Podie

46,649 posts

303 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

Don't think I even need to comment, do I?


:sigh: nope...

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

304 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
It would seem logical to turn down their applications for asylum based upon the fact that, in view of their former status, this would not be a safe country for them to live in.

I don't think they can have it both ways.

swilly

9,699 posts

302 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
If i was an Iraqi living in Iraq, given the above, when the war starts I would ask for asylum and then move to Britain.

Imagine it, every time you go to war to remove a dictator/evil regime you end up housing, clothing, feeding, providing benefit/jobs and cars to the fckuers.

I know those astute politicians believe in "keeping your friends near and your enemies nearer" but FFS thats taking it a bit far.

PS I have it on good authority that Osama Bin Laden has actually claimed asylum and is living in a 2 bedroom semi in Handsworth. Don't tell the Americans though- they might not understand

cnh1990

3,035 posts

291 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
We Americans have a special place for Taliban asylum seekers. It is called Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It has a large Taliban community in a sunny temperate climate with free food, medical, safe from retaliation and they can have a lot of time to meditate to become good muslims.
Calvin

t1grm

4,657 posts

312 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

Under the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, none can be deported because asylum-seekers cannot be returned to a country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or death.


Right... and no doubt they flew club class on a 747 direct from Kabul to Heathrow did they ? Don't think so somehow. Me thinks they may have passed through several other countries that aren't quite as dangerous as Afghanistan (France for one maybe) on their "two month" journey here...

SO WHY THEY FCUK AREN'T THEY CLAIMING ASYLUM IN THE FIRST SAFE COUNTRY THEY REACH !!!!

Sorry, I know this one's been done to death on other threads but it makes me

>> Edited by t1grm on Tuesday 18th February 15:03

CarZee

Original Poster:

13,382 posts

295 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

gnomesmith said: I don't think they can have it both ways.
au contraire.. it seems that asylum seekers can have it every which way.. it's us suckers that can't have it any way..

Anyway - I thought that Afghanistan had been puit on the white list.. certainly there was a concerted (media facing) effort to send back Afghan refugees recently.. ?

swilly

9,699 posts

302 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-582024,00.html

Taleban refugees 'given asylum priority'

Under the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, none can be deported because asylum-seekers cannot be returned to a country where they have a well-founded fear of persecution or death.

“They can claim that they face a real threat of persecution under the new regime,” Sayed Jan Karwani, a spokesman for the society, said.
quote]

Yeah but isn't the threat of persecution/death/imprisonment also riginating from US, the British.

swilly

9,699 posts

302 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
How far is West Hampstead from the Congestion Charging Zone. And will they have to pay?

hansgerd

1,274 posts

312 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
That is scaring... they ought to be shipped to Guantanamo. I mean, why are they seeking asylum ? Right, because they fear their life in Afganistan. Next question, why do they fear their life in Afganistan ? Answer, because they supported an evil dictatorship in Afganistan which is now free (sort of) and now fear revenge. What are those gits (Taliban and the ones who give them asylum in Europe) thinking ? Drop them in the channel, both of them.

deltaf

1,384 posts

285 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
Mince em up into pigfood. Thatll sort that "little" problem out.

Cotty

42,147 posts

312 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
why not shoot a few as they enter the country, it might persuade them that this is not a safe haven

lotusguy

1,798 posts

285 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
Hi,

Disappointing. Someone should file charges against them for 'Crimes against Humanity' in the Hague for all the dissident amputations which ocurred in the name of Alah in the football stadium in Kabul.

Or, is this the very prosecution they are claiming refuge from?...Jim'85TE

hertsbiker

6,443 posts

299 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
Just tell your local BNP / NF branch where these immigrant live....

nonegreen

7,803 posts

298 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

hertsbiker said: Just tell your local BNP / NF branch where these immigrant live....


They are all pussies Carl What we need is some real expertise Krups for example have this idea for an oven which looks like a shower....

308gt4

710 posts

288 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

lotusguy said: Hi,

Disappointing. Someone should file charges against them for 'Crimes against Humanity' in the Hague for all the dissident amputations which ocurred in the name of Alah in the football stadium in Kabul.

Or, is this the very prosecution they are claiming refuge from?...Jim'85TE


on this one LG re the football stadium thing I must agree with you. They should go back to Kabul and face the music, not do a "Boyz of Brazil" flit

robp

5,815 posts

292 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
This is truly extracting the urine.
Is there any hope for this fcuking country? I cant think OF ONE SINGLE REASON why these pieces of dog shite can get into our country. Would someone please tell me ONE reason supporting their asylum claim?

Off to calm down and take one of my pills......

sadoksevoli

1,232 posts

285 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all
I've given up writing e-mails to my useless piece-of-sh1t (labour) MP - just bide my time sharpening various implements for the day of reckoning.


BTW this post might get me arrested under the new Euro arrest warrant for a thought-crime - just let 'em try.

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

304 months

Tuesday 18th February 2003
quotequote all

CarZee said:

gnomesmith said: I don't think they can have it both ways.
au contraire.. it seems that asylum seekers can have it every which way.. it's us suckers that can't have it any way..

Anyway - I thought that Afghanistan had been puit on the white list.. certainly there was a concerted (media facing) effort to send back Afghan refugees recently.. ?


Okay, rephrase it as shouldn't have it both ways.

kylie

4,391 posts

285 months

Wednesday 19th February 2003
quotequote all
They are a shit society, look at how they treat their women, throw acid over their faces and cut their ears off. I mean that makes me thinking about it. What sort person can say to another "you are not to learn anything, cover your whole face at all times, stay at home with the children because I am out finding another virgin bride to my list of eight or more!!! I mean fcuk off.

I would like to punish them personally by forcing some nice Toluene down their throat and lighting the basterd. See how well they back fire then ay!