MoD rejects Afghan police worker’s resettlement bid despite Taliban threats
Former Afghan national police special unit worker Hamid faces continued danger and financial hardship after application under the Arap scheme was refused on 31 July.
The UK Ministry of Defence has refused a resettlement application for Hamid, a former Afghan national police special unit worker, despite his claims of receiving direct threats from the Taliban. The decision follows a 2022 data leak that exposed the identities of 18,700 Afghans who had worked with or for the British government, significantly increasing risks for those previously employed by UK forces.
Hamid, who holds certificates signed by senior British figures praising his “dedication, unparalleled service and leadership”, stated he has received multiple threats, including a video showing a man with a rifle below a Taliban flag. The individual in the footage cited knowledge of Hamid’s previous movements, prompting fears of imminent reprisals. Hamid described living in constant fear, unable to leave his home safely, while his family faces severe financial hardship as his wife is now the sole income earner.
In a rejection letter dated 31 July, the Ministry of Defence stated that Hamid had not provided sufficient evidence of “working alongside, in partnership with or closely supporting a UK government department”. The department granted him 28 days to appeal the decision, maintaining that inclusion in the data leak does not automatically grant eligibility for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) scheme.
Former Defence Secretary John Healey previously clarified that the leaked dataset contained speculative applicants who had not worked with British forces, asserting that exposure in the leak does not confer a right to claim asylum or access the Arap scheme. Under current Arap criteria, a high risk of death or serious injury is only considered if the applicant meets the broader eligibility requirements, which the Ministry of Defence determined Hamid had not satisfied.
Hamid argued that his case highlights inconsistencies in the processing of resettlement applications, noting that former colleagues who served in the same department and performed identical duties have already been relocated to the UK. He questioned whether he must wait until he is captured or killed for his service and danger to be recognised, emphasising that he has submitted every available document proving his service.
An Ministry of Defence spokesperson said each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis against publicly available eligibility criteria. The government noted that since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, it has resettled almost 39,000 Afghan men, women and children through various resettlement schemes, though the Arap scheme closed to new applications on 1 July last year.
