The British flight that was to leave for Rwanda at 10.30 pm on Tuesday to bring asylum seekers there, is not going away for the time being. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has prevented the deportation of seven people.
The ECtHR has prevented the deportation of refugees in Britain to Rwanda after an emergency procedure requested by an Iraqi migrant. The judge ruled that the people’s safety could not be guaranteed in the African country. The charity Care4Calais said this late on Tuesday evening.
There were seven London undesirables slated to be taken to Africa. The European Court ruling resulted in the cancellation of the entire flight.
Care4Calais was the first to report that the ECtHR had put an end to the departure of only the Iraqi migrant. “That means that it is now also possible for the other six to claim something like this. We are so relieved.” The ECtHR confirmed that verdict. The Iraqi can stay for another three weeks. A few hours later it became clear that the other six people would not be sent to Rwanda either. A government official said the departure has been postponed.
Prime Minister Johnson is disappointed and calls the plan ‘sensible’
The United Kingdom signed an agreement with Rwanda in April to receive illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in the African country for a fee. The plan sparked a storm of protest. Human rights activists tried to prevent its implementation through the British courts, but were unsuccessful.
With this measure, the government in London wants to prevent migrants from France from making the dangerous crossing to England. This often happens in rickety boats with the help of people smugglers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed disappointment at what he called “legal attempts to undermine safe routes for asylum seekers” and called the British plan “sensible”. He hinted that the UK is looking for ways to implement the plan. “Will it be necessary to change some laws to move us forward? It could well be and all of these options are under constant review.”