Latest news with #PaulLodato
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iraqi migrant who told ‘implausible' honour killing story can stay in UK
An Iraqi asylum seeker who lied about being at risk of an honour killing has won his human rights case to stay in Britain because he lost his passport. The Iraqi who arrived in the UK by hiding in the back of a lorry initially claimed that he would become the victim of an honour killing in his home country because of an affair. He said he had had an affair with a woman who had been married to a senior Kurdish fighter in order to settle a 'blood feud.' This claim was dismissed as 'implausible' by an asylum tribunal which ruled he made a 'pre-planned trip' out of Iraq. After his initial story was rejected, he argued that he could not return to Iraq because he no longer had a passport or national identity card after handing them over to a people smuggling agent. An upper tribunal accepted that Iraqis returning to their home country without ID documents can be subject to hostile treatment including torture, in breach of article three of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects against persecution. His appeal against the rejection of his claim by the lower tribunal was upheld, enabling him to remain in the UK even though he had initially lied over the reasons for leaving Iraq. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example exposed by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK or halt their deportations. There are a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds, which Labour has pledged to clear by halving the time it takes for them to come to court to just 24 days. The Iraqi left his home country in the summer of 2019, arriving in the UK in Peterborough on January 19 2020 in the back of an HGV. He had travelled by plane to Turkey, then to Greece. He initially took his bid for asylum to a first-tier tribunal in 2023, where he made up claims about an honour killing. But the judgment said: 'The [Iraqi] was found to have fabricated his core claim that he was at risk of honour killing because he entered into a relationship with a woman who had been married to a senior Peshmerga fighter to settle a blood feud.' The asylum seeker then appealed, arguing that the judge did not properly consider his argument that he should not be deported because he lost his passport and identity card after handing it over to a people smuggler and would face harsh treatment from Iraqi authorities as a result. In Iraq, citizens must have a Civil Status Identity Documentation (CSID) or a new biometric Iraqi National Identity Card in order to live and travel within the country. Those who do not have them are susceptible to hostile treatment including torture. Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato said: 'I am satisfied there are cogent reasons to conclude, notwithstanding the lies told by the [Iraqi] about his primary asylum claim, that he did indeed relinquish his passport and CSID to an agent during his journey to UK.' He accepted it was credible that the 'agent took the unremarkable decision to deprive him of any Iraqi documentation in an effort to make removal more difficult.' 'In broad terms, [he] has never wavered from his account that he handed his CSID card to the agent who was assisting him to reach the UK. Overall, I am satisfied upon consideration of the evidence in the round that the [Iraqi] relinquished his CSID card to an agent during his journey from Iraq to the UK,' said the judge. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Iraqi migrant who told ‘implausible' honour killing story can stay in UK
An Iraqi asylum seeker who lied about being at risk of an honour killing has won his human rights case to stay in Britain because he lost his passport. The Iraqi who arrived in the UK by hiding in the back of a lorry initially claimed that he would become the victim of an honour killing in his home country because of an affair. He said he had had an affair with a woman who had been married to a senior Kurdish fighter in order to settle a 'blood feud.' This claim was dismissed as 'implausible' by an asylum tribunal which ruled he made a 'pre-planned trip' out of Iraq. After his initial story was rejected, he argued that he could not return to Iraq because he no longer had a passport or national identity card after handing them over to a people smuggling agent. An upper tribunal accepted that Iraqis returning to their home country without ID documents can be subject to hostile treatment including torture, in breach of article three of the European Convention on Human Rights which protects against persecution. His appeal against the rejection of his claim by the lower tribunal was upheld, enabling him to remain in the UK even though he had initially lied over the reasons for leaving Iraq. The case, disclosed in court papers, is the latest example exposed by The Telegraph where illegal migrants or convicted foreign criminals have used human rights laws to remain in the UK or halt their deportations. There are a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds, which Labour has pledged to clear by halving the time it takes for them to come to court to just 24 days. The Iraqi left his home country in the summer of 2019, arriving in the UK in Peterborough on January 19 2020 in the back of an HGV. He had travelled by plane to Turkey, then to Greece. He initially took his bid for asylum to a first-tier tribunal in 2023, where he made up claims about an honour killing. But the judgment said: 'The [Iraqi] was found to have fabricated his core claim that he was at risk of honour killing because he entered into a relationship with a woman who had been married to a senior Peshmerga fighter to settle a blood feud.' The asylum seeker then appealed, arguing that the judge did not properly consider his argument that he should not be deported because he lost his passport and identity card after handing it over to a people smuggler and would face harsh treatment from Iraqi authorities as a result. In Iraq, citizens must have a Civil Status Identity Documentation (CSID) or a new biometric Iraqi National Identity Card in order to live and travel within the country. Those who do not have them are susceptible to hostile treatment including torture. Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato said: 'I am satisfied there are cogent reasons to conclude, notwithstanding the lies told by the [Iraqi] about his primary asylum claim, that he did indeed relinquish his passport and CSID to an agent during his journey to UK.' He accepted it was credible that the 'agent took the unremarkable decision to deprive him of any Iraqi documentation in an effort to make removal more difficult.' 'In broad terms, [he] has never wavered from his account that he handed his CSID card to the agent who was assisting him to reach the UK. Overall, I am satisfied upon consideration of the evidence in the round that the [Iraqi] relinquished his CSID card to an agent during his journey from Iraq to the UK,' said the judge.
The Irish Sun
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Iranian sex toy smuggler allowed to stay in Britain after claiming his X-rated enterprise would see him jailed back home
AN asylum seeker running an illegal sex toy smuggling ring has been allowed to remain in the UK after arguing he'd be jailed back home for his illicit business activities. The unnamed man - who claimed he imported boxes of adult devices, including vibrators - applied for refugee status on the grounds the Iranian authorities would view his choice of work adversely. Under Islamic law, sex toys are illegal and there is a ban on bringing them into the country. The man's argument was dismissed by a lower-tier immigration tribunal, which deemed his evidence "implausible". However, he went on to win an appeal at an upper-tier hearing after claiming asylum on the grounds he would likely be prosecuted in Iran for campaigning against the Tehran regime at London protests and on social media. The tribunal agreed returning to a such a fate in Iran would breach his human rights under the Refugee Convention. READ MORE NEWS That came after the first tribunal suggested his anti-Iran posts were not genuine and a ruse to help prevent him being deported. Disclosed in court papers seen by Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato found that the Iranian would face 'real risk of persecution' if he were to return home. There are currently a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds. Most read in The Sun Migrant rapists and paedos will be BANNED from claiming asylum under fresh immigration crackdown By Jack Elsom , Chief Political Correspondent MIGRANT sex fiends will finally be stripped of refugee rights — as Channel crossings pass 10,000 for the year. New laws will treat Currently, any overseas convict sentenced to more than 12 months in jail is automatically subject to a removal order. But many take advantage of protections under the UN Refugee Convention to avoid deportation by claiming asylum. It will create a presumption they should be denied refugee rights but they could still fight deportations using European human rights laws. Ministers believe this would have seen Ms Cooper said: 'Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK.' She is also setting a 20-week target for asylum decisions, down from the 50-week backlog as tax-payers fork out billions in migrant hotel costs. The number of small boat arrivals was due to go into five figures for the year when yesterday's crossings are confirmed. Brexiteer Nigel Farage warned the influx was 'coming to a town near you' amid reports ministers are offering to pay landlords to house them. 1 The man has been allowed to remain in the UK after winning his appeal Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Iranian sex toy smuggler allowed to stay in Britain after claiming his X-rated enterprise would see him jailed back home
The initial tribunal hearing said his argument was 'implausible' ASYLUM FURY Iranian sex toy smuggler allowed to stay in Britain after claiming his X-rated enterprise would see him jailed back home Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN asylum seeker running an illegal sex toy smuggling ring has been allowed to remain in the UK after arguing he'd be jailed back home for his illicit business activities. The unnamed man - who claimed he imported boxes of adult devices, including vibrators - applied for refugee status on the grounds the Iranian authorities would view his choice of work adversely. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Under Islamic law, sex toys are illegal and there is a ban on bringing them into the country. The man's argument was dismissed by a lower-tier immigration tribunal, which deemed his evidence "implausible". However, he went on to win an appeal at an upper-tier hearing after claiming asylum on the grounds he would likely be prosecuted in Iran for campaigning against the Tehran regime at London protests and on social media. The tribunal agreed returning to a such a fate in Iran would breach his human rights under the Refugee Convention. That came after the first tribunal suggested his anti-Iran posts were not genuine and a ruse to help prevent him being deported. Disclosed in court papers seen by The Daily Telegraph, it is the latest example of illegal migrants or foreign criminals using human rights laws to remain in the UK. Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato found that the Iranian would face 'real risk of persecution' if he were to return home. There are currently a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds. Migrant rapists and paedos will be BANNED from claiming asylum under fresh immigration crackdown By Jack Elsom, Chief Political Correspondent MIGRANT sex fiends will finally be stripped of refugee rights — as Channel crossings pass 10,000 for the year. New laws will treat foreign rapists and paedos like terrorists and war criminals so the Home Office can deport them more easily. Currently, any overseas convict sentenced to more than 12 months in jail is automatically subject to a removal order. But many take advantage of protections under the UN Refugee Convention to avoid deportation by claiming asylum. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's amendment to her Borders Bill will categorise anyone on the sex register as a 'particularly serious criminal'. It will create a presumption they should be denied refugee rights but they could still fight deportations using European human rights laws. Ministers believe this would have seen Clapham attacker Abdul Ezedi removed following his sexual assault in 2017 — before he successfully claimed asylum and threw alkali over a mother and her two children last year. Ms Cooper said: 'Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK.' She is also setting a 20-week target for asylum decisions, down from the 50-week backlog as tax-payers fork out billions in migrant hotel costs. The number of small boat arrivals was due to go into five figures for the year when yesterday's crossings are confirmed. Brexiteer Nigel Farage warned the influx was 'coming to a town near you' amid reports ministers are offering to pay landlords to house them.
The Sun
29-04-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Iranian sex toy smuggler allowed to stay in Britain after claiming his X-rated enterprise would see him jailed back home
AN asylum seeker running an illegal sex toy smuggling ring has been allowed to remain in the UK after arguing he'd be jailed back home for his illicit business activities. The unnamed man - who claimed he imported boxes of adult devices, including vibrators - applied for refugee status on the grounds the Iranian authorities would view his choice of work adversely. Under Islamic law, sex toys are illegal and there is a ban on bringing them into the country. The man's argument was dismissed by a lower-tier immigration tribunal, which deemed his evidence "implausible". However, he went on to win an appeal at an upper-tier hearing after claiming asylum on the grounds he would likely be prosecuted in Iran for campaigning against the Tehran regime at London protests and on social media. The tribunal agreed returning to a such a fate in Iran would breach his human rights under the Refugee Convention. That came after the first tribunal suggested his anti-Iran posts were not genuine and a ruse to help prevent him being deported. Disclosed in court papers seen by The Daily Telegraph, it is the latest example of illegal migrants or foreign criminals using human rights laws to remain in the UK. Upper Tribunal Judge Paul Lodato found that the Iranian would face 'real risk of persecution' if he were to return home. There are currently a record 41,987 outstanding immigration appeals, largely on human rights grounds. Migrant rapists and paedos will be BANNED from claiming asylum under fresh immigration crackdown By Jack Elsom, Chief Political Correspondent MIGRANT sex fiends will finally be stripped of refugee rights — as Channel crossings pass 10,000 for the year. New laws will treat foreign rapists and paedos like terrorists and war criminals so the Home Office can deport them more easily. Currently, any overseas convict sentenced to more than 12 months in jail is automatically subject to a removal order. But many take advantage of protections under the UN Refugee Convention to avoid deportation by claiming asylum. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper 's amendment to her Borders Bill will categorise anyone on the sex register as a 'particularly serious criminal'. It will create a presumption they should be denied refugee rights but they could still fight deportations using European human rights laws. Ministers believe this would have seen Clapham attacker Abdul Ezedi removed following his sexual assault in 2017 — before he successfully claimed asylum and threw alkali over a mother and her two children last year. Ms Cooper said: 'Sex offenders who pose a risk to the community should not be allowed to benefit from refugee protections in the UK.' She is also setting a 20-week target for asylum decisions, down from the 50-week backlog as tax-payers fork out billions in migrant hotel costs. The number of small boat arrivals was due to go into five figures for the year when yesterday's crossings are confirmed. Brexiteer Nigel Farage warned the influx was 'coming to a town near you' amid reports ministers are offering to pay landlords to house them. 1
