After ministers and charities helped them flee Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the first group comprising almost 30 LGBT Afghans arrived at the UK on Friday.
Students and activists were among the evacuees. They had been active in defending equality for the at-risk LGBT community of Afghanistan, the Foreign, Common and Development Office(FCDO) stated.
Stonewall, Micro Rainbow and many other LGBT charities will support these 29 people as they start a new life in the UK.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss declared that Britain would continue to defend “the right of all persons to be themselves, and love whom they want”.
Pictured: A member of Border Force staff assists a female evacuee as refugees arrive from Afghanistan at Heathrow Airport on August 26, 2021 in London (file photo). After ministers and charities supported their evacuation, the first batch of 30 LGBT Afghans arrived in Britain on Friday.
According to the FCDO, lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are being rescued from Afghanistan due to the potential for discrimination and assault following the Taliban takeover of the central Asian country.
Since Operation Pitting ended in August, more than 1,300 people have been helped by the UK, including British and Afghan citizens, to leave Afghanistan.
Officials claimed that the Foreign Secretary, together with Stonewall and Rainbow Railroad in Canada, intervened to ensure that this first group LGBT immigrants could travel to the UK this week.
Ms Truss, who also serves as minister for women, equalities and gender, stated that Britain is a fierce advocate of freedom and the right to all peoples to be themselves and love whomever they wish, without fear.
“We played an important role in getting these people out and we will continue to do all that we can to help the at-risk Afghans leave Afghanistan.”
In the coming months, more LGBT Afghans will be arriving in the UK.
Stonewall, Micro Rainbow, and other LGBT charities will support the people as they set up new lives in the UK. Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary (pictured Wednesday), stated that Britain would continue to defend the right of all individuals to be themselves and to love who they wish’
Stonewall’s chief executive Nancy Kelley said that Stonewall had been working to bring Afghans in danger to the UK for the “last few months” and she vowed to push for international assistance to those still in the Taliban-ruled country.
Ms Kelley said, “We are proud of our campaigning and collaboration that has resulted the first group LGBTQ+ Afghans arriving in the UK in order to resettle, rebuild their lives, as well as for LGBTQ+ people being recognised as a priority for resettlement.”
The UK Government declared that the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme would remain open to provide protection to people at risk.
According to the FCDO the scheme will prioritise those who helped the UK in Afghanistan and stood up against values like democracy and women’s rights and the rule of the law.
Pictured: Afghan refugees are seen in a military plane on Aug 22. The UK has helped more that 1,300 Afghan nationals leave Afghanistan since Operation Pitting ended in August.
It will also concentrate on evacuating vulnerable persons, including women and girls, as well as members of minority groups at-risk.
According to the UK government LGBT people are most at risk under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. They face increased persecution, discrimination and violence.
In August, thousands of Afghans fled the country after the Taliban, a hard-line Islamist group took control of Afghanistan following the withdrawal by the US and other Western forces.
Many of those fleeing Afghanistan were evacuated by the UK on Kabul Airlift planes. The planes flew people out between August 15-August 30.