Boris urged to aid Afghans
A leading UK barrister, who specialises in protecting the religious freedom of persecuted Christians, is urging the Prime Minister to come to the aid of 200 Afghans and help them flee the crisis-torn country.
Paul Diamond, who for three decades has represented persecuted Christians in British and European courts, is in contact with around 200 Afghans. All are Christian converts from Islam, and to abandon them to their fate would, he believes, condemn them to certain death at the hands of the Taliban.
Such are his concerns, Mr Diamond has felt compelled to write to the Prime Minister pleading for urgent help after their plight has been ignored by British Embassy staff in Kabul and Islamabad (capital of Pakistan), as well as the Home Office and Foreign Office.
CALLED TO ARMS: Taliban gunmen are enforcing strict Islamic laws – and killing Christian converts.
The barrister, who has fought and won some of the most high-profile religious freedom cases contested in British courts, believes there could be as many as 12,000 Christians in hiding in Afghanistan, where they are being hunted down by armed bands of Taliban militia.
"I am in daily contact with Christians in the crisis-led country, all fearful for their lives and desperate to leave," he said. "What we need is a special department within the UK Scheme which recognises the unique needs of people of faith, acknowledges their vulnerabilities, and via the validation of NGOs, or churches, can process applications in a swift, but secure manner."
In August, when the US and allied nations announced their hurried departure from the region, a system was set up to help Afghans flee the country. Yet, four months on, it has been exposed as being shambolic. In some cases, claims Mr Diamond, "it was literally down to personal contacts with individual US soldiers at certain gates who would let Christians through".
CALLED TO ACT: The Prime Minister has been urged to intervene and help the persecuted Afghans.
Now the Cambridge-based barrister is deeply concerned the Government will make the mistake of basing the Afghan Scheme on the United Nations one (UNHCR) that proved disastrous for thousands of Syrians a few years ago.
“Sadly, the experience of many of us who were involved in the Syrian Vulnerable Resettlement Scheme is that for people of faith, the UNHCR is the least efficient route to process those from religious backgrounds," he explained. "Their lack of understanding and willingness to engage with the very real needs of people of faith has led to many being left stranded in Syria, and many deaths."
Mr Diamond's plea is echoed by an Afghan Christian leader who has fled to Pakistan. He says that because of the Taliban’s strict adherence to Sharia Law, a death threat now hangs over every converted Afghani.
MOUNTING CRISIS: Afghan Christians queue to leave the ravaged and stricken country.
Known as Qasim, he said: "For Christians, no country in the region wants them: they are simply left to die. Daily I hear about my brothers and sisters being beaten and murdered."
Mr Diamond, who has offered his legal expertise free of charge to the Afghan campaign, is now urging the Government to come to its senses and act decisively.
"The UK owes these Christians a duty of care because the UK Armed Forces (and Allies) held and exercised control over Afghanistan where they were able to live peacefully and practice their religion," he added.
"Their lives are in daily danger. There is currently no provision in the Immigration Rules for them to apply to come here, so we need the UK scheme, with a dedicated faith department, announced by Christmas. Morally we cannot abandon them!”
NOT GIVING UP: Syrian Christian women marching through a Damascus street recently.