DARFURI ASYLUM SEEKERS IN THE UK

That this House is greatly concerned at the Home Office's recent decision to resume the removal of Darfuri asylum seekers from the UK and return them to Khartoum; recalls that in 2007 the Home Office suspended the deportations in order to investigate further accusations of torture in the region by Sudanese authorities, but concluded that the accusations were not confirmed; notes that this conclusion failed to take into consideration the UN High Commissioner for Refugees' position against the return of Darfuris to Khartoum, which stated that they would be subjected to torture and even death; further notes that upon lifting the ban on deporting Darfuri asylum-seekers the Home Office failed publicly to disclose its change in policy; and therefore urges the Home Office immediately to reverse its decision in order to honour the Government's international human rights obligations.