UK government passes controversial Rwanda bill amid outcry

LONDON: After months of heated debates and political manoeuvring, the United Kingdom’s Parliament was able to passed the controversial “Rwanda” bill on Monday.

Introduced by the Tory government in an effort to tackle immigration challenges, the bill aims to ‘streamline’ asylum processes and discourage irregular migration. Despite facing widespread criticism from the Opposition, the Tory government, under the leadership of Rishi Sunak managed to secure its passage.

Read more: UK government plans ban on plastic-containing wet wipes

The “UK-Rwanda Asylum Partnership” was unveiled Sunak in parliament two years ago and outlined plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda for evaluation under the Rwandan asylum system.

Although the bill has been approved, practical implementation may encounter delays due to various factors, including legal procedures and logistical arrangements.

Under the new legislation, only asylum seekers who have arrived in the UK without authorisation from another safe country will be eligible for processing in Rwanda. Sunak’s government claims that the bill is intended to address the surge in migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.

Several human rights organisations argue that the bill lacks adequate safeguards for asylum seekers and raises ethical concerns about deporting people to Rwanda.

Despite the outcry, Sunak is determined to implement the controversial bill. He has pledged to commence deportations to Rwanda within a few months.

Despite legal challenges, including a ruling by the UK’s Supreme Court deeming the previous policy unlawful due to safety concerns, the British government pushed through and introduced the new bill.

Read more: Malala Yousafzai to guest star in UK musical-comedy

Meanwhile, some United Nations (UN) personnel have cautioned that transferring asylum seekers to Rwanda, or any other location, may expose airlines and aviation authorities to the risk of “refoulement”. This refers to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human rights, which stipulates that violating the right to be free from torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

The personnel are actively engaging in dialogue with the British government and aviation authorities across Europe to ensure compliance with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.