.svg)
The UK Home Office has been alerted to a surge in questionable asylum claims by individuals allegedly faking homosexuality to remain in the country.
LGBTQ+ rights activist Peter Tatchell has raised concerns that his foundation is being approached daily by as many as 30 individuals—mostly Pakistani men—who appear to be falsely claiming to be gay. According to Tatchell, these individuals often seek written confirmation or membership cards from his organization to use as "proof" in asylum applications.
Tatchell disclosed that over the past 18 months, his charity has seen a consistent pattern of small donations, often under £3, coming from South Asian countries. He suspects that many of these donors are asylum seekers attempting to establish ties to the LGBTQ+ community. These donations are often followed by requests for documentation that could support their asylum claims.
In January, Tatchell felt compelled to contact Joanna Rowland, the Home Office's immigration director, to raise the alarm. In his letter, he noted a marked increase in donation activity linked to asylum requests, stating that while his foundation has helped many legitimate LGBTQ+ refugees, these suspicious patterns stood out.
Tatchell emphasized that any dubious requests are quickly investigated and rejected. He also stated that all genuine refugees assisted by his organization have integrated well and contributed positively to UK society.
In response, the Home Office affirmed that it treats all potential abuse of the asylum and immigration system with utmost seriousness and will take strong action when fraud is detected.
The issue is further complicated by the situation in Pakistan, where same-sex relationships between men are criminalized and can result in life imprisonment. In previous cases, UK immigration courts have allowed Pakistani nationals convicted of sex offenses to stay in the UK based on their risk of persecution under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
This legal precedent has contributed to ongoing political debate, with some calling for the UK to exit the ECHR. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch recently confirmed that her party is already reviewing that possibility. Meanwhile, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced plans to prevent convicted sex offenders from using asylum claims to avoid deportation, promising to remove legal barriers to their removal.
