Criminals in the UK are using human rights laws to avoid deportation, raising concerns about the system’s integrity and public safety.
London: A recent case has brought to light how some foreign criminals are using human rights laws to stay in the UK. Take, for instance, a Turkish heroin dealer who managed to avoid deportation by claiming he would face persecution if sent back to Turkey. This guy, who’s in his 70s, was once a major player in the UK heroin trade and had a long prison sentence for his crimes.
He argued that deporting him would violate his right to a family life under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). It’s pretty wild, considering he had an affair while visiting Turkey! This isn’t an isolated case; many criminals have used similar tactics to dodge deportation.
One notorious example is Abu Qatada, a radical cleric who was wanted in Jordan for terrorism charges. He claimed that if sent back, he could face torture, and the courts agreed, delaying his deportation for years. It wasn’t until a treaty was signed that he was finally sent back in 2013.
Then there’s Fatmir Bleta, who’s wanted for murder in Albania. He managed to stay in the UK by arguing that deportation would breach his right to a fair trial. He fled Albania after allegedly shooting someone and has been living in the UK since, even gaining citizenship.
Another case is Gjelosh Kolicaj, who smuggled millions out of the UK. He was caught and jailed, but when the Home Office tried to deport him, he used the same family life argument to stay. It’s frustrating to see these criminals finding loopholes in the system.
Ardit Binaj, an Albanian national, also returned to the UK after being deported. He claimed that sending him back would harm his family life, and his lawyers argued that his wife was suffering from anxiety because of the situation.
Wahbi Mohammed, involved in the failed 21/7 bombings, has also evaded deportation. His lawyers claimed he could be tortured if sent back to Somalia, which has kept him in the UK despite his serious crimes.
Even Learco Chindamo, who killed a headteacher, avoided deportation to Italy by claiming it would breach his human rights. It’s hard to believe that someone who committed such a heinous act can find a way to stay.
Lastly, Jumaa Kater Saleh, who was involved in serious sexual offences, also managed to avoid deportation by claiming he would face torture if sent back to Sudan. He even won damages after being held too long during his deportation attempts.
These cases highlight a troubling trend where human rights laws are being exploited by criminals to remain in the UK. It raises serious questions about the balance between protecting human rights and ensuring public safety.