UK Government Did Not Declare IPOB A Terrorist Group, But Says It Won't Grant Asylum To Biafran Group That Incite Or Uses Violence To Achieve It Aim

The UK Government through it official website announced that it will not grant asylum to members of Biafran group that  that incite or uses violence to achieve it aim. 

In a lengthy policy and information note on it official website, it says members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria. And that though, MASSOB has been banned, but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria have also been excluded from given asylum in United Kingdom. 

It also said that those who have been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Bafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, won't be granted asylum. 

Read part of statement here:

2.2 Exclusion

2.2.1 IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government, and members of the group and its paramilitary wing – the Eastern Security Network (created in December 2020) – have reportedly committed human rights violations in Nigeria (see Indigenous People of ‘Biafra’ (IPOB) and various media articles in Activities and Clashes between state and IPOB)

2.2.2 MASSOB has been banned, but is not a proscribed terrorist group in Nigeria. It too has reportedly been involved in violent clashes with the authorities (see Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of ‘Biafra’).

2.2.3 If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable. Persons who commit human rights violations must not be granted asylum.

2.2.4 If the person is excluded from the Refugee Convention, they will also be excluded from a grant of humanitarian protection.

2.2.5 For further guidance on the exclusion clauses and restricted leave, see the Asylum Instructions on Exclusion under Articles 1F and 33(2) of the Refugee Convention, Humanitarian Protection and Restricted Leave.

It is worthy to note that The UK did not describe IPOB as a terrorist group, or proscribed them, they only said "IPOB is proscribed as a terrorist group by the Nigerian government"

In other words, they are stating that it is only the Nigerian government that sees IPOB as terrorists

Also, they did not stop IPOB from seeking Asylum, all they said is " If a person has been involved with IPOB (and/or an affiliated group), MASSOB or any other ‘Biafran’ group that incites or uses violence to achieve its aims, decision makers must consider whether one (or more) of the exclusion clauses under the Refugee Convention is applicable"

In other words, if the group incites violence, the potential refugee will come other the Refugee convention. 

IPOB was not described as a terrorist group by the British authorities and they were not denied the right to seek asylum. 

Source

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