United Kingdom: The detention pending deportation of Raghbir Singh

AI is concerned about the possible deportation of Raghbir Singh, an editor of the Awaze Quam Punjabi weekly and General Secretary of the International Sikh Youth Federation. AI believes that, if returned to India, he would be at risk of imprisonment and torture or ill-treatment. The organization is also concerned about his detention without charge since 29 March 1995. He was detained after being questioned about the murder of a Punjabi newspaper editor in London in January 1995. Although not charged, he continues to be detained pending deportation. The UK Government claims that Raghbir Singh is to be deported for reasons of “national security”, apparently implying that he is involved in terrorism. However, no evidence has been provided to substantiate this. Raghbir Singh has lived in the United Kingdom since 1980. He is married to a British national and has two British-born children. His lawyer has applied for political asylum.

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