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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: Extremely controversial plans in migration policy
Photo: Frank Augstein / AP
New setback for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: A joint committee of the lower and upper houses of parliament has come to the conclusion that the government's bill on deportations to Rwanda is "completely incompatible" with the kingdom's human rights obligations. Above all, the committee criticized the fact that Rwanda should be classified as a safe country of origin.
The committee included representatives from both Sunak's ruling Tory party and the opposition. They criticized the fact that the draft law was intended to restrict the opportunity for those affected to appeal to court. In addition, it is “not clear” whether the people deported to Rwanda would not be sent from there to other countries where they would be oppressed or persecuted. The planned law denies those affected “the rights guaranteed by the laws protecting human rights,” explained the committee.
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The draft law stipulates that irregular arrivals can in future be sent from Great Britain to Rwanda, which will be classified as a safe third country, without having their asylum application examined. The British government hopes that this will have a deterrent effect on migrants. A corresponding agreement has already been concluded with the government in Kigali.
For Prime Minister Sunak, the law has now become something of a sticking point in his policy. He called it an "urgent national priority" a month ago and is keen to have it enacted before parliamentary elections later this year.
The British House of Commons approved the controversial law in mid-January. It is currently being discussed in the House of Lords. The British opposition and human rights organizations criticize the plan, as do the United Nations and the powerful Anglican Church in the kingdom. But the law is also very controversial among Sunak's Conservatives, with hardliners in the party calling for it to be tightened.
mfh/AFP