London wants to deport migrants despite ECtHR ruling

According to media reports, the British government wants to deport unwanted migrants to Rwanda and other countries, even though the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) will soon prohibit this.

The Telegraph newspaper reported on Monday that a clause had been built into a recently introduced law allowing temporary orders under Article 39 of the ECtHR to be ignored. The Conservative government is currently trying to raise the thresholds for application in negotiations with the court in Strasbourg. In 2022, with “Rule 39”, the judges prevented a first deportation flight to Rwanda in East Africa.

Under the draft by Home Secretary Suella Braverman, all people entering the UK undesired, regardless of their background, would be detained for up to a month. They are then deported to their home country or – if that would be too dangerous – to Rwanda or another country. The right to claim asylum should be taken away from them. The UN refugee agency UNHCR speaks of an “asylum ban”.

During a visit to Rwanda, Braverman criticized the ECtHR’s decision as “deeply flawed”. “That’s why we have measures in our bill that outline how the UK intends to comply with such orders in the future,” she said. The minister, himself descended from immigrants, hailed Rwanda, which has been criticized for serious human rights violations, as a “blessing” for migrants and “a beacon of hope for refugees”.

The fact that Braverman was photographed with a broad smile in front of a complex where migrants are to be accommodated caused criticism. In addition, only conservative media such as the “Telegraph” or the GB News broadcaster were invited to travel with them. (aeg/sda/dpa)