News

The government is violating the Geneva Convention by deporting asylum seekers whose claims have failed to dangerous countries, states to a report published this week.

The study, by the Institute of Race Relations, says the government has carried out deportations to Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zimbabwe although they are considered unsafe.

It adds that the government is putting "extreme pressure" on Iraqis to return home even though there the country is still unsafe.

The Geneva Convention states that: "No contracting state shall expel or return a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular group or political opinion."

A Home Office spokesperson denied any breach, and said: "Each asylum claim is considered by the Home Office on its individual merits, in accordance with our obligations under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights."

• The Deportation Machine from www.irr.org.uk