Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to provide asylum to Afghan musicians.

The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

All asylum and human rights claims, including those from Afghan nationals, are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Protection is normally granted where a claimant has a well-founded fear of persecution under the Refugee Convention or their circumstances engage our obligations under Article 3 (ECHR). Those who qualify are granted five years’ limited leave and have access to the labour market and welfare support.

We have reviewed the country situation in Afghanistan and have updated our country policy and information notes for Afghanistan, which reflect revised assessments of risk of persecution.

We can now confirm have now resumed decision making in regards asylum claims from Afghanistan and have ensured our decision makers are considering claimants’ protection needs in the light of relevant and up-to date country information.