Britain confirms plan to relocate 600 Afghan interpreters
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 4 June 2013 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Britain confirms plan to relocate 600 Afghan interpreters, 4 June 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/51d6cac027.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 04, 2013
Former British servicemen arrive with an interpreter named Mohammed (2nd left) at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London on May 3 to deliver a petition calling for asylum for Afghan interpreters who served the British Army.
Britain has confirmed plans to resettle around 600 interpreters working for the British Army in Afghanistan.
U.K. Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said in a statement on June 4 that Afghan interpreters who had worked with British forces for more than one year would be allowed relocate in Britain on five-year visas.
Hammond said the plan would not apply to interpreters whose employment ended before December 19 last year.
Hammond added that Afghan staff who did not meet those requirements would receive an education package in Afghanistan and wages equivalent to their current salary or be given a severance package of 18 months' salary.
Britain's plan comes after its previous policy of encouraging interpreters to stay in their homeland provoked angry reactions and several lawsuits by its current and former staff in Afghanistan.
Based on reporting by dpa and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
