Judges and Legal Professionals Afghanistan 2021-09-14
2021-09-14
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Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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The safety concerns for judges, legal professionals, and others in Afghanistan are pressing issues that require immediate attention.
What recent discussions he has had with the Foreign Secretary on ensuring the safety of judges and legal professionals in Afghanistan?
I acknowledge the grave concerns of judges, legal professionals and beyond, both here and in Afghanistan. My Department continues to work urgently to support cross-Government efforts to provide safe passage for judges in Afghanistan, including by ensuring that individual cases brought to my attention are immediately lodged with relevant parts of the system.
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Q2
Direct Answer
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Legal professionals from Afghanistan are relocating to the UK, and there is a need to support these individuals effectively.
What engagement has the Secretary of State had with the judiciary and legal professionals on supporting Afghan judges and legal professionals who will come to the UK or have already arrived?
I can reassure my hon. Friend that I am in daily communication with the judiciary and the wider legal profession, including Mrs Justice McGowan, discussing ways to provide support for Afghan legal professionals here in the UK.
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Q3
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Refugees from Afghanistan are facing delays in the tribunal process, and there is a need to address these issues.
After raising directly with the Government hundreds of separate cases covering thousands of people, I know of only two cases that have been resolved. What are the Government doing to help refugees from Afghanistan who are facing massive delays in the tribunal backlog?
Yesterday, the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme was announced. That provides a clear route to safety for judges and other lawyers in Afghanistan, prioritising them under the scheme. Some judges have already been resettled here in the UK, with efforts continuing.
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Q4
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A list of 126 Afghan judges at risk was sent to the Foreign Office but received no response, and only nine have been relocated.
Can he confirm whether the number of Afghan judges relocated to the UK remains in single digits, what the number currently is, and how much higher it could be if the Foreign Secretary had not been missing in action?
I have been working directly with the legal sector, the Bar Council and individual leading members of the profession virtually daily. I will not rest until we do everything we can to help these dedicated professionals. The list mentioned is something I would love to see; I will keep the House updated on numbers as they are made available.
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