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Miscellaneous - Asylum Seekers 7

The Home Office announced that no Afghans granted asylum in the UK since the liberation of Kabul were engaged in direct combat with British or American troops. Immigration Minister Beverley Hughes said three successful applicants who were part of the Taliban fighting force convinced the authorities they were forcibly conscripted. She said a review of all cases had been launched following media speculation over the decision to allow an unnamed Taliban fighter to stay in Britain. Ms Hughes said, "No cases were found of people granted asylum because they were committed to the Taliban regime and feared persecution from the new government. There were three who gave credible accounts of being opposed to the Taliban 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."

A group of six asylum seekers won a High Court challenge against new rules denying them housing and benefits. The High Court blocked new Home Office rules stripping late claimants for asylum of the right to state-funded food and shelter. The outcome of the six test cases could spark a flurry of similar claims - around 150 asylum seekers have already begun legal action on similar grounds. Home Secretary David Blunkett said after the judgment, "We are deeply concerned that the High Court has found against the Home Office and we will be appealing against the decision, with the Attorney General taking the appeal on behalf of the Government." Mr Blunkett said the law, that people should claim asylum as soon as reasonably practicable, still stood.

Giving his ruling, Mr Justice Collins said the rules as they were applied in the six test cases breached the European Convention on Human Rights. The judge said "insufficient consideration" had been given to the issue and the decisions made in the case of the six "must be quashed and reconsidered, if that has not already happened." Judge Collins said the High Court had already been "inundated" with legal challenges.

Asylum-seeker Ahmed Abdullah is living in a warm, free hotel room in south London, with free meals and a free colour TV thrown in. In contrast, Gulf War hero Pat Shaw is also living in London, out on the bitterly cold streets. Ahmed is 23 and left Iraq because, he said, "I heard it is good over here. People from the government told me that I will be staying in the hotel only for three months, then I'll get a house and a job." Seventy-nine of his countrymen are sharing the hotel with him and looking forward to the same privileges.

No such luck for 36-year-old Pat. He put his life on the line for his country, but fell on hard times. Now he says our unfair social security rules and bizarre method of allocating housing favours refugees and asylum seekers, while condemning heroes to living rough. Ahmed Abdullah's centrally-heated hotel room overlooks a famous south London common. He was shipped in when the Sangatte Camp in France closed. Ahmed fled Kiruk in northern Iraq three months ago after paying £3,700 to be smuggled across Europe in a lorry with two other men.

He shares his twin-bunked room with three others, one of them Shamal Latif, 21, from his home town. "I met him here and we've become close friends," he said. Ahmed, who was studying to become a sports teacher before skipping his country, gets £10 a week allowance, but wishes it was three times as much. Across London in the streets of Covent Garden, Pat Shaw shivers in the icy wind. He has lived on the streets for five years. Pat was a Lance Corporal in the Royal Irish Regiment. He saw action in the Gulf War, served in Oman, Gibraltar, and Germany, and did two tours of Northern Ireland during 10 years' duty.

Because he is homeless, Pat is entitled to £53.09 a week. He would be eligible for housing benefit if he could find a landlord willing to take him. None will. Asylum seekers are housed immediately, but Pat has been on Camden council's housing list for four years. There is a seven year wait. Many refugees jump the queue. "It annoys me that they get housed straightaway," said Pat. "I have worked since I was 18, paid my stamps, risked my life for this country, and then was basically kicked in the teeth." Ironically he is on the reserve list and could be recalled to the Army. "If we had a prolonged war with Iraq I'd be called up." said Pat. "But I'd rather go to prison than fight for my country again."

 

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