The nephew of a commander in the brutal hardline Islamist regime of the Taliban has been granted refugee status in the UK – and he can bring seven family members to join him, a judge has ruled. It’s reported the extended family of the man, none of whom can speak English, will be allowed to come to Britain despite an tribunal accepting they would “place a significant burden upon the public purse”.
The nephew, who is referred to as “S”, has been living in Britain since 2016, having initially claimed to be 15 years old, but later found to be 18. In 2018 an immigration judge granted “S” indefinite leave to remain in the UK after a psychiatric assessment claimed he had post-traumatic stress. It’s reported that “S” fled Afghanistan after he was stabbed by two cousins in a family dispute, the tribunal heard.
The court was told the uncle of “S” was a Taliban commander who had been pressuring his father for “S” to “join the jihad”. The Taliban rule Afghanistan with their own medieval interpretation of Islam, carrying out public floggings and denying even the most rights to women.
The Daily Mail reports the family that could join “S” in the UK are his parents, three sisters, plus a niece and a nephew currently living in Turkey. It was said the relatives have “no options” and are unable to return to Afghanistan.
The extended family of “S” were refused the right to enter the UK in 2023, having tried to use Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights for the “right to private and family life”.
The Mail reports judge Gaenor Bruce has now decided to overturn the refusal and human rights grounds. The court heard “S” was constantly “re-triggered” by worry for his family and that he was unable to train as an electrician because of mental distress. He was said to be reliant on public funds.
Backing their appeal, the judge said: “The relationship between S’s mental health and his contact with his family is at the heart of this claim. Only by being reunited with them will he be able to recover and live a meaningful existence.”
The judge accepted allowing the family members to settle in the UK “would place a significant burden upon the public purse”.
The Home Office is understood to be seeking permission to lodge an appeal against the judgement.
A spokesman said: “We have recently moved to suspend the refugee family reunion route, acknowledging the pressures it is putting on local authorities and public services.”
The Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to tell the Labour Party conference today (Monday) that migrants who want to remain in the UK will have to learn English to a high standard, have a clean criminal record and volunteer in their community.
Ms Mahmood’s speech is expected to set out a series of conditions for those seeking indefinite leave to remain status.
Asylum seekers will also need to be working, paying national insurance and not be claiming benefits, under the proposed changes.
Labour said there is a “dividing line” between the Government’s proposals and Reform UK’s pledge to scrap settled status for all non-EU migrants.
