In the UK, airlines are refusing to operate deportation flights on which the country's government plans to send refugees to Rwanda

In the UK, airlines are refusing to operate deportation flights on which the government plans to send refugees to Rwanda.

The British government made the decision to deport immigrants who arrive in the country in search of political asylum back in April 2022.

It was supposed to primarily affect migrants from African countries who arrived in the UK by boat or truck “illegally”, according to the British government.

Human rights activists spoke out against the deportation plan. They began a trial demanding that he be declared in violation of the UN Convention relating to the status of refugees. However, on December 19, the UK Supreme Court declared the plan legal.

Privilege Style Airlines, which was supposed to carry out the first deportation flight in the summer, refused to cooperate with the government after facing public criticism. Other air carriers are also refusing to participate in the deportation due to reputational risks.

Context

• As part of the deportation plan, refugees are placed in temporary detention centers. In the summer it became known that instead of counseling, refugees at risk of suicide were offered to learn musical instruments or solve Sudoku.

• The UK government says refugees in Rwanda will have access to work, health care and social security. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Rwanda “one of the safest countries in the world.” Human rights activists doubt Rwanda's security from a human rights perspective.