Kolbassia Haoussou, a prominent campaigner and survivor of torture, has issued a stark warning to the UK government, stating that its controversial plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is a profound failure of compassion and legality.
Having fled torture in his native Chad and eventually being granted refuge in Britain, Haoussou now leads the charity Freedom from Torture. He speaks with the harrowing authority of personal experience, declaring the policy will inflict further trauma on people who have already endured unimaginable suffering.
A Chilling Message to the Vulnerable
In a powerful intervention, Haoussou framed the policy as a direct threat to the wellbeing of survivors. "This is sending a message to survivors of torture that your trauma doesn't matter," he stated. He argues that the very act of being forcibly removed to an unfamiliar country, with the constant fear of being sent away, replicates the psychological conditions of torture—the overwhelming fear, uncertainty, and loss of control.
Breach of International Obligations
The campaigner emphasised that the scheme flies in the face of the UK's commitments under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights. He accuses the government of attempting to "outsource its responsibilities" and shatter the lives of those who come to the UK seeking safety, fundamentally undermining the principle of providing sanctuary.
A Personal Journey to Safety
Haoussou's testimony is rooted in his own journey. After being tortured, he made the desperate decision to flee Chad. His path to the UK was perilous, and upon arrival, he faced the daunting and complex British asylum system. His eventual grant of refugee status was a lifeline, offering him the safety to rebuild his life—a chance he believes the Rwanda policy denies to others in his situation.
His story stands as a powerful rebuke to the policy, highlighting the immense courage it takes to seek asylum and the critical importance of a system built on compassion and legal integrity, not deterrence and expulsion.
