The first plane that was scheduled to transport asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda was refused to take off at the last minute on Tuesday, writes among other things BBC.
Seven people are expected to be sent to the East African country, but the plane was canceled after the European Court of Human Rights put its foot down.
The plane was on Tuesday night at a military airport in Wiltshire, ready to take off. It is unclear when the flight will take place.
According to the news agency Sky Newstwo of the passengers to be sent to Rwanda had been delayed leaving the UK earlier Tuesday night after much though.
The CHR writes in a ruling that at least one of the asylum seekers, an Iraqi man, must be allowed to stay in the UK, as he may be in danger if he is sent to Rwanda. The United Kingdom is the signatory state to the Court, which is separate from the EU.
Originally, 130 asylum seekers were to be sent out with the first plane. But the number was eventually reduced to seven, before Tuesday’s court decision.
Will not be deterred
The British government is disappointed, but will not be “deterred from doing the right thing”, says Home Secretary Priti Patel.
In a statement, she said the plan would help destroy the human traffickers’ business model and prevent the loss of life, while ensuring that people who really need it receive protection.
– It is very surprising that the European Court of Human Rights has intervened despite previous success in our domestic courts, says Patel.
– British Home Secretary Priti Patel says the government is not deterred and that preparations for the next flight are already underway. Photo: Alberto Pezzali / Pool via AP / NTB
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– We will not be deterred from doing the right thing and implementing the plans to control our country’s borders. Our lawyers review all decisions made in connection with this flight, and preparations for the next flight begin now, it is further stated
Subject to criticism
The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who promised to tighten the borders after Brexit, has been pressured by the fact that a record number of migrants have moved from northern France to the country across the English Channel.
More than 10,000 have crossed the canal since the New Year.
The agreement with Rwanda to send asylum seekers there was signed in April, with the aim of scaring migrants and refugees from crossing the canal. In return, Rwanda receives several million pounds in development aid.
It has been heavily criticized by human rights groups and the UN. Critics say it is illegal and inhumane to send people to a country far away that they do not want to live in.
In addition, they refer to the human rights situation in Rwanda, where President Paul Kagame has ruled with an iron fist for almost three decades.
Human Rights Watch has also documented widespread human rights abuses and accuses security forces of imprisoning people arbitrarily and torturing them systematically and in the worst possible way.
The Rwandan government rejects the criticism.
Decision in July?
On Friday, a British judge decided that Rwanda policy should be given a completely new review, but that at the same time it is not a crime to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda while the review is being done.
The ECHR said on Tuesday that the deportations should wait until the British courts make a final decision on whether the practice is legal. It will happen in July.
The practice is not unique to the UK. Politicians in Denmark and Austria are considering similar plans, while Australia has operated an asylum reception center in the Pacific nation of Nauru since 2012.
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