The unnamed Iraqi national told authorities he needed time to “make up a reason” to stay in the UK during his nine-year legal battle.
An asylum seeker said he needed time to ‘make up a reason’ to stay in the UK. (Image: Getty)
An asylum seeker who said he needed time to “make up a reason” to stay in the UK has been allowed to remain in the country. The Iraqi national was embroiled in a nine-year legal battle, sparked in 2016 when he came to the UK in a lorry. Despite admitting to not having a “real reason” to claim asylum, he dodged deportation. Both of the man’s parents are dead, and he has no family back in Iraq, he said. He told a screening interview: “I don’t have a real reason to be here. Give me some time, and I will make up a reason.”
Three years later, his claim for asylum was denied by the Home Office, prompting him to launch two ultimately unsuccessful appeals in 2020 and 2022. The unnamed man was eventually allowed to bring his case before two upper tribunal judges. The tribunal in April heard evidence that he was “abducted, detained, and tortured” by ISIS and determined he “cannot be safely returned”.
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The unnamed Iraqi national has been allowed to stay in the UK. (Image: Getty)
A Freedom From Torture doctor examined the asylum seeker and determined he had injuries and scarring “consistent with torture”.
She said the man’s accounts of the torture he endured “differed” from interview to interview, but put this down to a variety of reasons and did not dismiss their credibility. He also suffers from complex PTSD.
One scar on his arm was consistent with his recollection of an “attempted amputation”.
However, the Home Office tried to paint the asylum seeker’s evidence as “not generally credible” after he asked for time to “make up a reason” to stay in the UK.
The man’s lawyers, however, argued that the comment had “little weight” as it was made during an “oppressive” interview without the typical safeguarding procedures.
The panel was ultimately satisfied that the asylum seeker was a “victim of ill-treatment” by ISIS and other militia groups and could not return home, partly because he had no identity documents.
Deputy Judge Paul Lewis wrote: “We note the interview took place shortly after the [man] had arrived in the UK having been concealed in a lorry for at least the duration of the crossing.
“We find the [man] made this remark intentionally reflecting his reasons for coming to the UK.
“The [asylum seeker] did not, as he put it, ‘have a real reason to be here’. Despite that, at this time, he cannot be safely returned. We allow the [man’s] claim for humanitarian protection on this ground.”
