A nephew of a Taliban commander has been granted the right to bring seven family members to Britain, after a senior immigration judge ruled that refusing them entry would be “unjustifiably harsh”, even though she admitted the decision would put a “significant burden on the public purse.”
The man, known only as S, first arrived in the UK in 2016, claiming to be 15 but later assessed as 18. His case revealed a violent family history: his uncle, a Taliban commander, had tried to force him into jihad, while two cousins stabbed him during a bitter feud.
Fleeing Afghanistan, S was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2018 and granted indefinite leave to remain. Since then, his parents and sisters have been living precariously in Turkey after escaping via Iran, fearing deportation back to Afghanistan.
Lawyers for the family argued the sisters faced the constant threat of forced marriage if returned home. One was reportedly beaten with an iron bar by her Afghan husband in Turkey before their split, while two others have been working illegally to care for their diabetic, housebound parents.
Their bid to join S in Britain was initially rejected in 2023 under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects family life. But this month, Upper Tribunal judge Gaenor Bruce overturned that decision, ruling that only reunification would give S a chance of recovery.
“The relationship between S’s mental health and his contact with his family is at the heart of this claim,” the judge said. “Only by being reunited with them will he be able to recover and live a meaningful existence.”
The ruling directly clashes with ministerial promises to restrict refugee family reunions. Critics warn it will heap further pressure on Britain’s already stretched services, but supporters say it was a necessary humanitarian decision.
For S, who once hoped to train as an electrician before his trauma left him unable to continue, the judgment represents the chance of a fresh start. His seven relatives are now expected to relocate from Turkey to the UK.
