Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry

Bogus Websites, Staged Protests and Pretended Atheists: Inside the Fake Asylum Industry

Asylum seekers and their advisors are leveraging creative tactics to fabricate claims, ranging from counterfeit news platforms to orchestrated demonstrations and invented medical scenarios. These strategies form part of a deceptive network that exploits gaps in the immigration system. The first phase of an undercover investigation revealed that migrants can pay for guidance on how to simulate being gay to qualify for asylum, among other methods.

During a meeting at a London office near Mile End Road in early April, the reporter was given a detailed tutorial on crafting asylum applications. Disguised as a Bangladeshi university dropout, he expressed interest in staying in the UK through asylum status. Zahid Hasan Akhand, presenting himself as a barrister, outlined the various ways to mislead the Home Office. He identified three primary paths: persecution based on sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views.

A Multifaceted Approach to Fabrication

Akhand emphasized that while he would manage the legal aspects, the applicant needed to choose a narrative. The options required effort, with a fee of £1,500 covering preparation for interviews and mock sessions. However, additional costs would be necessary to create supporting evidence. For instance, if the claim was based on atheism, the reporter would need to generate social media posts criticizing Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. These posts would then be published in online outlets, some of which Akhand claimed could be paid to feature the content.

“Religious clerics will start making comments threatening to kill you. Then you will see that your evidence has been created,” Akhand said.

He also suggested using AI tools like ChatGPT to draft articles for atheist magazines, further bolstering the claim. To add credibility, the reporter would attend events organized by groups for former Muslims and make public statements during them. “This is not the age of posts anymore, it is the age of live videos,” Akhand remarked.

For a gay asylum claim, the strategy involved creating membership records in LGBTQ+ clubs and arranging a fake partner to provide a letter confirming the relationship. “If you go to those associations, you will not get caught out. Most of the people there are not gay,” Akhand added, highlighting the ease of fabrication.

A System Designed for Success

Political asylum claims, Akhand noted, demanded more rigorous documentation. “They will not dig too much into your past story” for gay cases, he claimed, as the private nature of such claims makes them easier to manipulate. In contrast, atheism and politics are public matters, requiring more effort to substantiate.

“No way to know who is an atheist and who is not… You just told me that you are not an atheist, which means you are not an atheist,” Akhand said.

Despite the potential for false narratives, Akhand assured the reporter that proper evidence would guarantee success. “Everyone is being successful, God willing,” he said, adding that the process involved “deciding whether you will do it on atheism grounds or on gay grounds… then I will draw you a full outline.” Akhand qualified as a barrister in 2022 but lacks a license to practice, raising questions about the legitimacy of his role in the scheme.