"Flights will take off"

Rwanda asylum pact: Sunak wants to ignore courts

The British Prime Minister is fully committed to the issue of migration.

(Bild: AFP)

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wants to ignore interim injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights in connection with his asylum pact with Rwanda. The British plan is considered highly controversial - and has already failed once. 

The Conservative politician said this at a press conference in London on Monday shortly before the start of new deliberations in Parliament on his Rwanda bill. "We are ready, the plans are in place and these flights will definitely go ahead," said Sunak.

The asylum pact with Rwanda stipulates that irregular migrants should no longer be given the opportunity to apply for asylum in the UK. Instead, they are to be taken to Rwanda regardless of their origin and apply for asylum there. There are no plans for them to return to the UK. The regulation is intended to deter people from making the dangerous crossing across the English Channel in small boats.

London books commercial charter flights
Sunak said: "As soon as the law is passed, we will begin the process of deporting those who are scheduled for the first flight." The first plane is expected to take off in ten to twelve weeks. The government had previously announced the first departure for spring.

Sunak said that commercial charter flights had been booked for the deportations. In addition, hundreds of case workers and judges have been selected to deal with possible complaints. The only flight scheduled to take off for Rwanda so far was stopped at the last minute by an injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. The UK Supreme Court later declared the asylum pact unlawful.

Ruling to be overturned
The Rwanda Act is now intended to overturn this ruling. The bill is currently stuck in the process between the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the majority of whom have reservations about it. However, Sunak instructed his party's MPs in both houses to remain in session on Monday until it is passed. Sunak ruled out any concessions. "No ifs, no buts. These flights will take off for Rwanda."

Experts are alarmed
UN human rights experts have called on airlines and aviation authorities not to participate in such programs. Taking people to Rwanda or to another country from where they may be forced to return home could violate the right to protection from torture and other degrading treatment.

Rishi Sunak with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame

(Bild: AFP)

"When airlines and aviation authorities implement government decisions that violate human rights, they must be held accountable for their behavior," the UN Special Rapporteurs declared.