Afghan war hero facing deportation to Rwanda16 May 2023 14:22
Defence minister James Heappey has refused to give a lifeline to an Afghan war hero who served alongside British forces and is facing deportation to Rwanda.
The minister, who was questioned about the veteran’s case in the House of Commons, said that the former airman would not qualify “in principle” for the Ministry of Defence’s Afghan resettlement scheme.
The Afghan pilot flew combat missions against the Taliban, and came to the UK on a small boat after he says he was unable to find a safe and legal route to apply for asylum here.
The Independent is calling for the pilot to be given a safe haven in the UK, and has been supported in its campaign by a string of UK generals, the former head of the Royal Navy, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, and music legend Sting.