Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Diane Taylor

Britain grants Tamil asylum seekers rescued at sea ‘safe-country’ move

Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands
The British Indian Ocean Territory of Diego Garcia, where a group of up to 50 rescued Sri Lankan Tamil people have been kept since 2021 in what they say are deteriorating conditions. Photograph: CPA Media/Alamy

Two Tamil asylum seekers receiving medical treatment in Rwanda after being rescued from the Indian Ocean by the Royal Navy will be taken to a safe third country, a British commissioner has ruled.

The man and a woman, both aged 22, are among dozens of Tamil refugees, including alleged torture victims, who were stranded on the island of Diego Garcia in October 2021. They had been travelling in a boat hoping to reach safety in Canada but had to be escorted to the island by the Royal Navy after problems with their boat.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.