#refugee-rights

#refugee-rights

The home secretary's new attack on the rights of immigrants and refugees is shocking and disorienting. Shabana Mahmood wants to raise the qualification period for immigrants to achieve indefinite leave to remain in the UK from five years to 10 (and up to 20 for refugees). It looks outlandish. So does her wider assault on asylum seekers, denying them permanent refugee status even if their claims are successful.

The Home Office says the changes, due to take effect in June, will restrict accommodation and support payments to "those who genuinely need it". Ministers say the new rules will also remove assistance from asylum seekers who work illegally or break the law.

On a Thursday afternoon, 19-year-old Mahmudul Hasan prepared seating on the floor of his bamboo-and-tarpaulin home in Balukhali Rohingya Refugee camp. Minutes later, 35 young children trooped in. Hasan is still in his teens, but he is their teacher. They greeted him in Rakhine language: Sayar, Nay Kaung Lar? [Sir, how are you?] The children are among 80 who study at Hasan's community-run private school, where he teaches them Burmese, English and maths.

The Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee agreed to initiate a timetable for the disarmament of Palestinian factions in Lebanon, aiming to enhance refugees' rights.