Woman who risked life working for western government-backed projects can now stay on UK
An Afghan woman who risked her life defending human rights in her home country has been allowed to stay in the UK after a Home Office U-turn.
The Guardian previously reported on the case of Mina*, whose asylum claim was rejected by the Home Office despite her high-profile work in Afghanistan. She worked for western government-backed projects and was involved in training and mentoring women across the country, which put her in grave danger even before the Taliban took over in 2021.
Home Office officials had said in their refusal letter: “It is considered that you do not face a real risk of persecution or harm on your return to Afghanistan on the basis of your claimed adverse attention by the Taliban.”
Mina’s lawyers lodged an appeal against the refusal but before the appeal was heard the Home Office sent a new letter granting refugee status, saying: “We accept you have a well-founded fear of persecution and therefore cannot return to your country, Afghanistan.”
