An Afghan man who was wounded in a bomb blast while working as an interpreter for British forces won a reprieve on his asylum application Wednesday, hours after reports that his request was rejected.
The UK Border Agency said it had withdrawn its initial decision and will fully review the application of Mohammad Rafi Hottak, 25, who worked as an interpreter for the British military in Afghanistan for five years.
“Now I feel like the pressure is slowly getting off my shoulders and something is really going to happen,” Hottak told The Times newspaper.
“I feel as though I am getting my freedom. Hopefully, this decision will also bring some help to the other interpreters (in Afghanistan) who are waiting for help,” he said.
Hottak was involved in a bomb attack in November 2007 when stationed in Helmand, the strife-torn southern province which has been an epicentre for insurgent activity in Afghanistan. The blast also killed a British captain.
“The increased level of publicity around this case has led to new and significant information, which was not provided during the application process, coming to light,” a spokeswoman for the UK Border Agency said.
“As a result of this additional information, we have informed Mr Hottak that we have withdrawn our decision and will fully review his application.”
Hottak was initially denied asylum, more than a year after applying, because of “significant inconsistencies” the Border Agency said were in his claim.
The agency said he had failed to provide sufficient proof that he had worked with British troops or was threatened by the Taliban.
Hottak is living in the city of Leicester in central England on just £36 ($58, 45 euros) a week.
The Times said that even if Hottak’s claim of being a British interpreter is accepted, the Border Agency may still not consider him in danger from the Taliban if he returns to Afghanistan since he no longer works for foreign forces.
