Mass protest: more than 100 Afghanis gathered outside Lunar House. Some served alongside British forces in Afghanistan, but now face possible deportation to Rwanda after attending the Home Office’s Lunar House immigration centre

A crowd of more than 100 Afghan refugees gathered outside the Home Office’s Lunar House in central Croydon today to protest at the Government’s policy of deportation to Rwanda.

The protestors included some who served with the British military, usually as translators, during the conflict in Afghanistan and who were forced to flee their homeland for fear of certain death at the hands of the Taliban.

The protest follows previous efforts by various human rights groups to prevent the forced detention at Lunar House of those seeking refugee status, when some refugees were believed to have been removed prior to being flown – at massive cost to tax-payers – to central Africa.

“This mass round-up of vulnerable people is intolerable,” one protester said. They described them as “Tory deportations on the sly”.

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

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

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

Jabarkhyl says that 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, specifically those who served as soldiers and provided crucial support to NATO forces during the period of 2001-2021, carries with it a myriad 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 individuals.”

Jabarkhyl and the protesters maintain that, whatever the change in the British law to state that Rwanda is a safe country, it really is not.

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

“Reports from humanitarian organisations and human rights groups raise legitimate concerns about the conditions in some refugee camps in Rwanda. Instances of overcrowding, inadequate access to basic services and a lack of protection underscore the urgent need for a reassessment of current policies.

“The safety and well-being of refugees must be prioritised above all else.

“The decision to relocate refugees to Rwanda reflects a broader trend of outsourcing the responsibility of refugee protection to countries ill-equipped to handle such tasks.

“We understand that the migrant crisis in the United Kingdom is unmanageable and should be controlled. However, those Afghans who have worked alongside the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan should be exempted from deportation to Rwanda. Taliban extremists are violent towards the Republican soldiers in Afghanistan and are facing direct threats from the barbaric Taliban regime.

Speaking out: among the protesters was one eloquent teenaged speech-maker

“Since August 2021, vulnerable Afghan soldiers have either been killed by the Taliban or left Afghanistan towards European countries to take refuge. Those that have reached the United Kingdom for safety are now facing removal to Rwanda. This is unacceptable as they very bravely stood by NATO forces to fight against terrorism in Afghanistan. Now is the time that the United Kingdom government should show them appreciation for their commitment.”

Transferring Afghan refugees to Rwanda could have negative repercussions for 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 may be perceived as a betrayal of these values and a failure to fulfill its moral obligations towards 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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