A coalition of human rights groups has accused the Home Office of failing to protect thousands of Afghans who worked for the UK, leaving them at risk from the Taliban a year after the evacuation from Kabul. In a parliamentary briefing, nine expert groups described the government's resettlement schemes as 'unjustifiably restrictive' and expressed deep concern that no safe route exists for many women, girls, and oppressed minorities.
The UK has two programmes: the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap), which has brought 10,100 eligible Afghans to Britain, and the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS), which aims to resettle up to 20,000. However, the briefing contends that the schemes' failures have forced Afghans to use dangerous, unofficial routes, with Afghanistan becoming the largest source of Channel crossings in early 2022.
Criticism extends to the arbitrary nature of approvals. Of 250 former staff at Adam Smith International who applied for Arap, only 24 were cleared, and none since August 2021. Director Daniel Pimlott described the situation as 'shameful,' noting that one applicant was deemed ineligible despite performing identical work to successful colleagues. The group includes 109 British Council teachers who, despite being permitted to apply to come to Britain, have no safe means of escape or extraction date.
One teacher, Mahmoud, received threatening letters from the Taliban accusing him of being a 'spy of the UK government' and warning his 'assassination was legitimate.' The Taliban raided his home, and he has moved 11 times. His eight-year-old daughter was whipped to reveal his whereabouts. Joseph Seaton, former British Council deputy director, said the failure to protect the teachers has tarnished the UK's legacy in Afghanistan.
The briefing recommends expanding Arap and accelerating the ACRS pathway for women and minorities, whose situation continues to deteriorate. The government has not yet responded to the report.
