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

Inside the fake asylum industry

Undercover investigations have uncovered a network of individuals and organizations fabricating evidence to support false asylum claims. Techniques range from creating misleading online content to orchestrating demonstrations and posing as non-religious individuals. One such method involves charging migrants for guidance on how to feign sexual orientation to gain refugee status, as revealed in the initial phase of the probe. Other strategies include commissioning articles in atheist publications and employing actors to simulate relationships, all aimed at deceiving immigration authorities.

The legal facade

At an office near Mile End Road in east London, an undercover reporter met with Zahid Hasan Akhand, who claimed to be a barrister. The meeting occurred in early April, during a Tuesday evening, as the reporter posed as a Bangladeshi student seeking asylum. Akhand outlined three potential paths: persecution based on sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political activism. He emphasized that while the legal framework would be managed by him, the applicant’s personal narrative would determine the success of the claim.

“Everyone is being successful, God willing,” Akhand remarked. “If you listen and get the evidence arranged properly, it will be successful.”

Akhand explained that for a gay asylum claim, fabricated evidence might include club memberships and a fake partner. “You will be given a partner, and that partner will provide a letter saying, ‘yes, he was my partner,’” he said. For atheism, he suggested crafting social media posts attacking Islam and engaging with online platforms. “You will see that your evidence has been created,” he added, highlighting the reliance on AI tools like ChatGPT to generate content. Political asylum, he noted, required more effort, as it involved public scrutiny of past actions.

Costs and tactics

For £1,500, Akhand promised to assist with legal preparation, including mock interviews. However, additional fees of £2,000 to £3,000 were needed to create supporting documents tailored to the chosen claim. He claimed to have connections with clerics and atheist groups willing to amplify the applicant’s story through social media or events. “This is not the age of posts anymore, it is the age of live videos,” he said, urging the reporter to participate in gatherings of former Muslims to build credibility.

“For gay cases, it’s private, but politics and atheism are public,” Akhand explained. “So establishing that is a bit difficult.”

Akhand, who qualified as a barrister in 2022, admitted he lacked a full practicing license. Despite this, he assured the reporter that the system was designed to accept such claims. “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,” he said, underscoring the lack of verification processes for these fabricated identities.

The illusion of authenticity

The undercover reporter was told to first choose between sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views as the basis for their claim. Akhand then prepared a detailed outline, claiming to connect the applicant with witnesses and evidence creators. “If you go to those associations, you will not get caught out,” he said, noting that many participants in such groups were not actually gay. The scheme relied on a blend of deception and strategic storytelling, with the goal of making false claims appear legitimate under the scrutiny of the Home Office.