Thousands of Afghans relocated to the UK under a secret scheme have been left in fear after a data leak exposed their personal details, with some reportedly killed or forced into hiding. Law firm Barings Law, representing about 1,000 victims, said it is aware of incidents where individuals named on the leaked database have been killed in targeted attacks.
One Afghan, Abdullah, who is in hiding in Afghanistan after applying to come to the UK under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap), described receiving an email from the British government informing him of the breach as “the worst day in all time”. He said: “The people I trusted for my safety have now created this risk for me… The current Afghanistan regime will find me and torture me.”
Ahmed, a former soldier who conducted operations with British troops, wept when he realised his details were included. Now in the UK under Arap, he said two of his brothers were shot dead at the Iranian border while trying to flee the Taliban after the family home was raided. “I was very worried and I started crying,” he said, urging the government not to forget about colleagues still in Afghanistan.
The UK government sent warnings in English, Pashto and Dari, advising recipients to limit social media visibility and avoid unknown contacts. The Ministry of Defence routinely collects sensitive data from Afghans seeking resettlement, which Prof Sara de Jong of the Sulha Alliance called “incredibly concerning”. Law firms Leigh Day and Barings Law are pursuing potential legal action on behalf of affected individuals.
