Refugee in High Wycombe labels Rwanda Scheme 'inhumane'
A refugee from Kuwait living in High Wycombe called the government's Rwanda Scheme 'inhumane'
As a majority voted last night to back the Prime Minister's controversial Rwanda policy, support was however not overwhelming.
With some abstentions within his own party and opposition among other parties, a majority of 44 allowed the plans to continue for now, although Rishi Sunak could face a showdown in January.
Several Conservative MPs said they could vote emergency legislation down if the policy is not tightened.
Several asylum seeker support charities have, in the past, showed strong opposition to the Rwanda Scheme, and refugees themselves are no exception.
Ahmad Jaber is one of them.
He fled persecution in Kuwait and arrived in the UK three years ago, after being granted refugee status earlier this year, and now lives in High Wycombe.
"...when you have that intimidation of being sent somewhere else it's very frightening and humiliating."
Like other asylum seekers, Mr Jaber was housed in hotels and asylum centres until he was granted asylum, allowing him to work and pay for his own accommodation.
He said: "If we talk as humans who have dignity, nobody likes to be forced to go somewhere, let alone somewhere that has a reputation for not being a safe place."
"People seek asylum in the United Kingdom, and the motive for this is that there is a rule of law, democracy, and there is respect for human rights so when you have that intimidation of being sent somewhere else it's very frightening and humiliating."
Other members of his family, including his nephew, have also arrived in the UK after seeking safety, however he has not yet been granted asylum, and could be one of many to be sent to Rwanda, if the plans go ahead.
Mr Jaber said: "My nephew, he's been kidnapped and tortured, and now the fact that he is expecting that he might be sent in a third country where they would maybe extradite him back to Kuwait, it's very frightening and I think it's inhumane."