Pakistani Asylum Seeker Awarded £100,000 After Unlawful Detention by UK Home Office

In a landmark ruling, Pakistani asylum seeker Nadra Almas has been awarded nearly £100,000 in compensation following a protracted 16-year legal battle with the UK’s Home Office.

Nadra Almas, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2004, overstayed her visa and subsequently sought asylum, citing fears of persecution in Pakistan due to her Christian faith.

Claimed that she was “treated like a criminal” for overstaying in the UK.

According to The Telegraph, in 2018, she was detained by Home Office officials and informed of her impending deportation, only to be released two weeks later.

It then took the government almost three years to grant her refugee status, during which time she was prohibited from working, traveling, or claiming benefits, leaving her reliant on friends and family for support.

After almost 16-years the High Court found that the Home Office’s actions breached her human rights, describing the treatment as “outrageous” and showing a “reckless disregard” for her rights.

The High Court awarded her with an exact amount of £98,757.04 for damages she suffered from.

The UK government’s appeal against the compensation was dismissed, with the judge affirming the original decision and the amount awarded.

This case underscores the importance of adhering to due process and the rule of law in immigration matters. The Home Office’s failure to follow its own procedures not only violated Almas’s rights but also resulted in a significant financial penalty for the government.

It serves as a reminder of the critical need for fair and lawful treatment of individuals within the immigration system.