Stars urge Commonwealth to oppose UK deportation policy

Thursday 30th June 2022 05:31 EDT
 

British celebrities including Sophie Okonedo and David Harewood have urged Commonwealth leaders in Rwanda to oppose the UK’s plan to deport refugees to the country. The celebrities said it shows a “colonial view” of Africa as a “dumping ground”.

It comes as a summit of Commonwealth prime ministers and presidents is under way in Kigali. Since 2018, this is the first time the gathering has been held.

Together With Refugees organised an open letter where the authors, including many with an African heritage, said: “The Commonwealth cannot – must not – stay silent on this offensive scheme. Your voices would be a crucial and powerful force to help bring it to an end.”

The letter signed by more than 20 high-profile celebrities continued: “The prospect of being transported to Rwanda, and African countries like it, is enough to put off even the most desperate people fleeing war and persecution from coming to the UK.

“This tells us much about the British government’s colonial and insulting view of Africa, as a place that is no better than a dumping ground for things – in this case people – it considers a problem.”

Prince Charles called the government deportation policy as “appaling” which was announced in April, only days before the first flight estimated to cost £500,000 was stopped after a last-minute injunction from the European court of human rights.


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