A former translator for British forces who fled the Taliban and became trapped in Italy faces being deported back to Afghanistan despite qualifying for sanctuary in the UK.
Former frontline translator Mustafa, 31, says Italian authorities have warned him he will be deported – even though Britain promised that ex-interpreters will have their cases processed from third countries.
He has now begun legal action in a race to force the UK to ‘honour its commitment’ and bring him and his family over.
He is one of more than a dozen former translators claiming to qualify for relocation currently in third countries appealing for their cases to be processed through British embassies.
Former UK frontline translator Mustafa, who fled the Taliban and is in Italy has been warned he will be deported back to Afghanistan despite qualifying for relocation
More than a dozen former translators are appealing for their cases to be processed through British embassies as they are stuck in third countries (pictured: British armed forces disembark from a flight from Afghanistan in August 2021)
The Daily Mail’s award-winning Betrayal of the Brave campaign has highlighted the plight of ex-interpreters trapped in countries such as Indonesia, Congo, Turkey, Greece, Belgium and India awaiting relocation or for their cases to be processed.
Mustafa applied for sanctuary in Britain under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) in April but heard nothing and decided to turn to people smugglers to escape after he was warned Taliban fighters were hunting for him.
He fled with his wife, five-year-old son and daughter, three, through Iran and Turkey, ending up in an Italian refugee camp in July.
Mustafa claimed the Italian authorities said he had to ask Britain ‘for help as I worked for them’. He thought his problems were over when an email from the Ministry of Defence’s Afghan team arrived on August 14 saying he was eligible for relocation under ARAP.
‘I was absolutely delighted,’ said Mustafa, ‘It was an email that meant safety for my family and – knowing the Government of the UK had said we could come directly from countries like Italy – I
