Two Afghan judges have won a High Court fight with ministers after saying they felt they were unfairly prevented from moving to the UK.
The pair were denied entry visas despite telling authorities the Taliban regime posed a risk to their “life and limb”.
The man and woman were represented by British lawyers and said they were entitled to immigration leave “by reference” to the British emergency evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan in August 2021 after a Taliban takeover.
Home Office, Foreign Office and defence ministers said their claims should be dismissed.
But a High Court judge has upheld their challenge to ministers’ refusal to consider their applications under a scheme through which people can be given leave to enter the UK on “compelling compassionate grounds”.
Mrs Justice Lang outlined her decision in a written ruling published on Thursday after considering evidence at a High Court hearing in London in May.
She ruled that the two judges, who live in Afghanistan, could not be identified in media reports of the case.
The judge said Home Secretary Priti Patel must now decide how their bids to enter the UK should be dealt with.
Women protest against Taliban rule in Afghanistan - in pictures
Mrs Justice Lang heard that other “comparator” judges had been given leave under the scheme.
“In my judgment, there was no rational distinction between the comparator judges and the claimants which could justify a grant of [leave] to the comparator judges but not to the claimants,” she said.
“In their work as judges, hearing counter-terrorism and national security cases, they contributed to the UK government’s objectives in Afghanistan to promote the rule of law, and to combat terrorism.
“In doing so, they placed themselves and their families at considerable personal risk. That risk has heightened since the Taliban seized power.
“They and their families are in hiding, but realistically they will be found by the Taliban at some point.
“There is verified evidence that other judges have been summarily executed by the Taliban.”
The two judges also argued they qualified for leave to enter under an Afghan relocation and assistance scheme.
Mrs Justice Lang disagreed with that argument and ruled against them on it.
Barrister Lisa Giovannetti, QC, who led a government legal team, had told her in a written argument that ministers had made decisions they were entitled to make to further the “legitimate objectives” of conducting an evacuation and maintaining immigration control.
Ms Giovannetti said the “executive” was entitled to decide who to evacuate and who to admit to the UK.
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Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
How to get there
Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
