THE SNP is urging the UK Government to offer all Afghan citizens who’s data has been breached by the Afghan Relocations Assistance Policy (ARAP) immediate asylum in the United Kingdom.
The call comes following a Ministry of Defence (MOD) data breach which involved the details of 250 Afghan interpreters’ – all of whom were eligible to come to the UK during the evacuation process but were cruelly left behind.
The data breach has led to Afghan’s being “hunted relentlessly” by the Taliban, according to one Afghan interpreter. The SNP’s home affairs spokesperson Stuart McDonald said: “It was essential that the UK government increased its support for Afghan refugees during the withdrawal process. However, their failure to do so has left thousands of people stranded and fearing for their lives.
“This data breach is just the latest in a long list of errors by not only the MOD, but by the Tory government – but could sadly be one of the costliest.
“That is why I am urging the Prime Minister to offer every Afghan interpreter who’s information has been leaked asylum here in the United Kingdom. It is our fault that their lives are now in danger – therefore it is our responsibility to rescue them.
“In time, Boris Johnson and the MOD will have serious questions to answer about their role in this foreign policy disaster. That is why the SNP has called for a judge-led inquiry on the withdrawal process and are now supporting calls for an independent inquiry into this data breach.”
Meanwhile, a Ministry of Defence official has been suspended pending investigation following a “significant” data breach relating to interpreters in Afghanistan hoping to come to the UK. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace issued a House of Commons apology and told MPs he “immediately directed investigations” take place after being left angered by the error.
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