Six refugee families who have been living at a British military base in Cyprus for almost 18 years have won the latest round of their legal battle to enter the UK.
The High Court has ordered the Home Secretary, Theresa May, to reconsider her refusal to allow the families, originally from Iraq, Sudan, Ethiopia and Syria, entry on the grounds she did not consider all the relevant circumstances.
The families were aboard a boat that washed ashore at Akrotiri in October 1998 while attempting to reach Italy.
The 35 refugees have been stuck in what’s been described as a legal 'limbo' in Dhekelia in the British Sovereign Base Areas ever since.
RAF Akrotiri
They were provided with support and given accommodation previously used by British soldiers.
The government had encouraged them to move out of the base and into the republic of Cyprus but they refused because they were worried about losing their refugee status.
They also argued they were the UK’s responsibility.
The High Court Judge, Mr Justice Foskett said:
“It is to be hoped that, for the sake of everyone concerned, particularly the young people involved, active and perhaps bold steps will be taken by all relevant parties to seek a solution without further recourse to prolonged legal proceedings. The need to find a permanent solution has been clear for a very long time. It is even more urgent now."
Tessa Grogory, the solicitor that brought the legal challenge on behalf of the families, said:
"We are pleased that the court has quashed the Home Secretary's decision.
"The government can now avoid further costly legal proceedings by allowing this small group of recognised refugees to resettle in the UK."
"To do so would not create a dangerous precedent or a back-door to the UK, it would simply be a humanitarian response in recognition of the unique circumstances of these families.”
Last year there were claims a new migration route would be opened up when more than 100 refugees arrived on the shore of the Akrotiri base.
Migrants arrive at RAF Akritiri in October 2015
A member of one of the families and lead claimant in the case, Tag Bashir said:
"We hope that with today's judgment we are one step closer to providing our children with a decent future. I was 26 years old when I came to the SBA and for 17 years I have been trying to work and build a life for my family but there is nothing here."
"I worry every day about my three children and how this situation and the uncertainty is affecting them. I hope the UK Government will finally recognise that we are their responsibility and allow us to come to the UK where our only wish is to work hard and integrate into society."
The Home Office responded to the ruling by saying: "We welcome today's judgment, which upholds the government's long-standing policy to only consider asylum claims lodged in the UK.”
"We are clear that we are under no obligation to extend our asylum process to individuals or groups outside the UK, including those on the Sovereign Base Areas."
Cover Image: Refugees arrive at UK military base in Cyprus in October 2015
