Law lords back Iraqi Kurd over asylum
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A suicidal Iraqi Kurd asylum-seeker won a court victory yesterday over David Blunkett in his five-year battle to have his claim for refuge heard in the UK.
A suicidal Iraqi Kurd asylum-seeker won a court victory yesterday over David Blunkett in his five-year battle to have his claim for refuge heard in the UK.
The Home Secretary wants Mohamed Ali Razgar, 26, to be sent back to Germany, the first country in which he sought asylum, because his human rights claim was "manifestly unfounded". But the Law Lords ruled by a 3-2 majority that he was entitled to stay in the UK until his appeal had been heard.
His lawyers argued his health would suffer and he could try to take his life if he were sent back to Germany. He had tried to kill himself in the past as a result of two years of detention and torture in Iraq.
Lord Bingham said the asylum-seeker would be able to receive medical help in this country that he might not in Germany. "A decision which, if implemented, might lead to Mr Razgar taking his own life could scarcely ... be dismissed as of insufficient gravity," he said.
Mr Razgar was refused asylum by the German authorities, but then claimed asylum in the UK in February 1999.
A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The facts of this one case are exceptional and the number of cases which may be affected by this judgment should be extremely small."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments