Afghan wives’ desperate fight to live in UK with interpreter husbands

BETRAYAL OF THE BRAVE

THE wives of Afghan former translators have begun legal action against the Government to allow them to join their husbands in Britain.

A dozen women fear being left to face Taliban revenge attacks – with UK and US forces due to pull out from Afghanistan by September 11.

Their husbands, who were interpreters for the UK military, were engaged to wed them when they were granted sanctuary in Britain.

They have since returned to marry in Afghanistan – but their attempts to bring their wives to the UK with them have been rejected. As the translators were not married when they moved to Britain, their wives must apply under normal immigration and asylum rules – one requirement being they speak English.

Interpreters accused the Government of ‘betrayal’, claiming their wives are suffering from depression. Now lawyers for the women told the Home Office they will seek a judicial review of the decision, highlighting the risk they face from the Taliban and their denial of the right to a family life.

The Mail’s Betrayal of the Brave campaign has highlighted the plight of translators. The Sulha Alliance for the interpreters said: ‘These families should be urgently reunited to protect wives and children against revenge.’

THE Government happily accepts plaudits for giving sanctuary to the families of Afghan interpreters who risked their lives working for the British military.

But away from the cameras, ministers cruelly put obstacles in their way.

It is disgraceful that desperate wives must resort to legal action to allow them to join their husbands here.

In the warped world of Whitehall, because they were only engaged, not married, at the time, they do not qualify for safe haven. Rest assured, if the murderous Taliban catch up with these women, they will not split hairs.

This country owes those translators a colossal debt of gratitude. Deliberately keeping their loved ones in danger is no way to repay it.