ECHR blocks UK plan to deport Iraqi asylum seekers to Rwanda

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued an urgent order Tuesday preventing the removal of an Iraqi asylum seeker hours before his scheduled deportation from the UK to Rwanda.

Invoking Rule 39 of its Rules of Court, the ECHR indicated to the UK government to not deport the Iraqi national “until three weeks after the delivery of the final domestic decision in his ongoing judicial review proceedings.”

The Court stepped in to block the deportation of the Iraqi after the British High Court rejected his appeal for interim relief to prevent his deportation. He had claimed asylum in the UK on May 17.