Taliban soldier who killed in battle wins fight to stay in UK - to spare him from persecution by... the Taliban

An Afghan Muslim who claims he killed people while fighting for the Taliban has used the Human Rights Act to remain in Britain – despite Government efforts to deport him. Zareen Ahmadzai, who spent three years fighting in Afghanistan, has admitted using a Kalashnikov rifle and firing rockets, as well as supplying weapons and food to the Taliban.

The Home Office rejected his claim for asylum, and when his appeal also failed, Ahmadzai was detained at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre in West London while awaiting deportation.

Yet when the 30-year-old – who initially did not speak English – mounted a fresh appeal, he was able to overturn the Home Office’s case on the grounds that his life would be at risk if he returned home.

The decision is another setback for Home Secretary Theresa May, who is under pressure to reform human rights laws following a series of high-profile cases in which Muslim extremists have avoided deportation.

Ahmadzai arrived in Britain illegally in May 2010 after travelling from Afghanistan in lorries.

Two days later he was arrested at an address in Wolverhampton and claimed asylum. When the Home Office ordered he be deported, he appealed to the immigration court.

Although a judge rejected his appeal, Ahmadzai took his case to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

The tribunal heard Ahmadzai joined the Taliban after his father, who was a commander in Helmand province, was shot dead by US soldiers during a battle. He said that he killed people during his fighting with the Taliban as well as supplying the group with weapons, water and food.

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