An Afghan interpreter who served alongside US and British forces, credited with directly saving American lives, has been told by the UK government he cannot stay in Britain and faces being sent back to certain danger.
Joy Peter, 31, worked with US Marines in Helmand province in 2012. His bravery was documented in a photograph that captured the moment he helped detect and disarm a deadly improvised explosive device (IED) intended for a US patrol.
Despite his invaluable service and the Taliban placing a price on his head, the UK Home Office has rejected his asylum application. The decision letter chillingly stated he could be relocated to Kabul, a city now under Taliban control where he would be immediately identifiable and at extreme risk.
A Life in Hiding
Since the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, Mr. Peter's life has been in perpetual danger. He has been forced to move between safe houses, living in constant fear of reprisal for his work with Western forces. "The Taliban are looking for me," he told The Independent. "If they find me, they will kill me."
The Home Office's rejection suggests he could seek help from the Afghan government—a regime now led by the very insurgents he fought against. The decision has been condemned by veterans and rights groups as a catastrophic failure of the UK's duty to its allies.
Calls for Government Action
The case has sparked outrage, highlighting the plight of many Afghan interpreters who feel abandoned by the nations they served. There are urgent calls for the Home Office to immediately reverse its decision and grant Mr. Peter and others like him the safe haven they were promised.
His story is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the moral obligation owed to those who risked everything to stand with British and allied troops.
