At least one asylum seeker who was informed by the Home Office that he may be on the first flight to the East African country, scheduled to depart this Tuesday, has been assessed as likely to have been tortured. Campaigners condemned the Home Office “unemployment” and said its intention to deport recognized victims of torture 4,500 miles to another continent was a breathtaking new low. Documents seen by the Observer reveal that people currently being held by immigrant detainees and assessed by specialist doctors as having “injuries and scars consisting of torture” are among those who say they are likely to be deported to Africa. The revelation came as Home Secretary Pretty Patel overcame a legal challenge to Rwanda’s deportation policy after a Supreme Court judge ruled that the first flight could take place this week. Campaign officials confirmed they would refer the case to the appellate court on Monday. Politics has been harshly criticized for human rights reasons. Reports surfaced on Saturday that Prince Charles had privately condemned him as “disgusting”. The revelation that the victims of torture are among those Patel wants to deport will be seen by many as another bleak milestone in her efforts to work hard for asylum. Documents dated June 10 reveal that an asylum seeker – who was assessed by experts as a possible victim of torture – was informed that his claim was likely to be rejected, which meant that he “had removal instructions for relocation to Rwanda”. They also reveal the speed with which the Home Office is determined to deport new arrivals by small boats along the English Channel. A man from Sudan, who arrived in the UK in a small boat on 14 May, was immediately arrested. Three days later, the Home Office sent a “request for biographical information” to Rwanda, and four days later the asylum seeker was served with a notice of intent to leave. On May 28, Rwandan authorities “accepted” the transfer, with the Interior Ministry stating that “the only known obstacle to your relocation to Rwanda” was a legal challenge from his lawyers. Clare Moseley of the charity Care4Calais, which supports many of the 31 people who have said they may be on their first flight this week, said: “Listening to the stories of people being sent to Rwanda is enough to make you nightmares. “Stories of wars, battles, torture and abuse. It is deeply shocking that the United Kingdom could inflict further casualties on these victims. The anesthesia of the deportation of victims of torture is breathtaking. Do not have any doubt about the suffering it causes – people are trying to commit suicide in detention centers. “We are in very dark ground.” Another Sudanese man told doctors he was beaten with sticks and a metal rod and held for two months, years later “arrested and imprisoned” as he crossed into Libya, which is notorious for traffickers. A document from the Ministry of Interior states: “It is acceptable that [torture] The evidence provided corresponds to level 2 of adults at risk in immigration detention policy and you are therefore considered to be at risk under the policy. “ Level 2 of the policy indicates “professional evidence of torture”. The government’s policy on at-risk adults was introduced in 2016 to keep injured adults out of custody by classifying them as ‘vulnerable and at risk’ including a person “suffering from a condition or experiencing a traumatic event (such as trafficking, torture or sexual violence) “. Others are also concerned that a large number of those whom the Home Office wants to deport may not even undergo a medical examination to determine if they are being tortured due to delays in conducting assessments, known as rule 35. The Detention Act stipulates that a rule 35 report must be drawn up for any person whose mental or physical health is likely to deteriorate as a result of their detention. Sheroy Zaq, a lawyer in the Department of Public Law and Immigration at Duncan Lewis Law Firm, said: or suicidal ideation. “Even if they have this information, the foreign minister does not give a timetable for when they will be examined.” Zack added that when there was evidence of torture and removal instructions were given, the Home Office said the evidence would be “examined before the flight takes off”. He said: “But what if you make a negative decision half an hour before the flight takes off? “What are the chances of this person having adequate access to justice?” A full judicial review – in which the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to Rwanda’s policy as a whole – is due to be heard before the end of July. An Interior Ministry spokesman said its co-operation with Rwanda was in full compliance with international and national law. They added: “We have now issued official instructions to the first group of people to be transferred to Rwanda later this month. “No one will be removed if it is not safe or unsuitable for them.”
