Foreign Office official raised 'stark' criticisms of Rwanda plan, court hears

Also: Rwanda asylum scheme: Warning over political killings before UK flight (BBC)

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Source: The Guardian

Foreign Office official raised ‘stark’ criticisms of Rwanda plan, court hears

Guardian, BBC and Times seek release of documents about policy of sending asylum seekers abroad

Diane Taylor
Tue 16 Aug 2022 17.13 BST
Last modified on Tue 16 Aug 2022 20.13 BST

A Foreign Office official raised concerns about plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, citing state surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture and killings by the country’s government, the high court has heard.

The court has been asked to consider an application by the foreign secretary to keep parts of certain government documents secret for fear the contents could damage international relations and threaten national security.

The government’s application for a public interest immunity (PII) certificate asks to keep 10 short passages confidential.

The Guardian, the BBC and the Times made submissions to the court urging disclosure of these 10 passages, arguing that this was in the public interest. A draft ruling from Lord Justice Lewis into the PII application is expected tomorrow.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/16/foreign-office-official-criticisms-rwanda-plan-asylum-seekers

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Source: BBC

Rwanda asylum scheme: Warning over political killings before UK flight

By Dominic Casciani
Home and legal correspondent

16 August 2022

UK ministers who backed sending asylum seekers to Rwanda were warned by their own adviser that its government tortures and kills political opponents.

The warning came weeks before the British government tried to send asylum seekers to the African nation.

The adviser raised concerns about the tone and accuracy of an official note on Rwanda's human rights record.

There is an ongoing legal challenge against government attempts to keep more of the comments secret.

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Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62566194


The first flight meant to take asylum seekers to Rwanda from the UK was cancelled amid legal challenges (PA Media)