UK's asylum-outlawing law violates international law: UN rights chief

Geneva: After Britain introduced a draft law that outlaws asylum claims by those arriving in the country illegally, the United Nations Human Rights chief criticised the legislation, saying it would violate international law, Agence France-Presse reported.

UN rights head Volker Turk said that he was deeply concerned over the legislation.

To stop thousands from crossing the English Channel on small boats, the British administration introduced legislation to outlaw asylum claims by all illegal arrivals. The authorities are planning to transfer such arrivals to other places, such as Rwanda.

The new move has been opposed by many, including the UN refugee agency and several rights groups. Turk added his voice to the voices of concern raised by the other dissenters.

Turk said that the draft law would empower UK authorities to detain and remove all who enter the nation by small boats through the Channel, ban their reentry and prohibit them from applying for citizenship.

AFP quoted Turk, "Such a wholesale ban preventing people from seeking asylum and other forms of international protection in the UK would be at variance with the UK's obligations under international human rights and refugee law."

He further said that the proposed law raises more concerns, such as violating the right to an individual assessment, bans on arbitrary migration detention etc.

The law violates the ban on collective expulsions and refoulement, or returning someone to a country where they could face torture, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, Turk said.

Turk argued that all people are compelled to leave their country when safety, dignity etc., are compromised. They seek the same abroad, and they are entitled to full respect of their rights, without mattering their migration status or mode of arrival.