Legal advisers help migrants pose as gay to get asylum, undercover BBC investigation finds

Undercover Study Reveals Migrants’ Strategy to Claim Asylum by Pretending to Be Gay

A hidden sector of legal professionals is profiting by assisting migrants in fabricating their sexual orientation to secure asylum in the UK, according to a BBC investigation. In an initial phase of this extensive inquiry, the broadcaster uncovered how individuals facing visa expiration are supplied with fabricated narratives and coached on generating misleading documents such as letters, photographs, and medical reports. These migrants then submit asylum applications, asserting they are gay and fear persecution upon returning to their countries of origin, namely Pakistan or Bangladesh.

Upon sharing the findings, the Home Office stated:

“Individuals attempting to manipulate the system will face legal consequences, including deportation from the UK.”

The UK’s asylum framework grants refuge to those unable to return home due to risks of harm. However, the BBC’s investigation highlights how legal practitioners are systematically exploiting this system, extracting fees from migrants seeking to remain in the country. These migrants often hold expired student, work, or tourist visas rather than arriving through illegal means like small boat crossings.

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Following the collection of preliminary data, including anonymous tips, BBC reporters infiltrated the process by impersonating international students from Pakistan and Bangladesh with expiring visas. Their investigation revealed a gathering of over 175 attendees at a community center in Beckton, east London, organized by Worcester LGBT—a group claiming to support LGBTQ+ asylum seekers. Yet, participants outside the venue admitted to the undercover reporter that the group’s purpose was not as straightforward.

Fahar, one attendee, remarked:

“The majority of people present aren’t gay.”

Another participant, Zeeshan, went further:

“Not a single person here is gay. Even less than one-tenth of one percent.”

The undercover reporter’s involvement began in late February when they contacted Mazedul Hasan Shakil, a paralegal at Law & Justice Solicitors in Birmingham and London, and founder of Worcester LGBT. Initially, Shakil claimed the applicant needed a credible fear of persecution to qualify for asylum. But soon, the conversation shifted to Urdu as a new figure, Tanisa, enthusiastically proposed a strategy to obtain a visa through a “gay case” or “same-sex” claim.

Tanisa, who later identified as Tanisa Khan—a Worcester LGBT adviser—explained to the reporter:

“The only viable path to a visa is through the asylum route, based on human rights. There’s no alternative.”

She emphasized that the applicant would have to memorize a fabricated story for their interview, though she would handle all preparations. The meeting, held in Tanisa’s home in Forest Gate, east London, lasted 45 minutes, offering a glimpse into the meticulous methods used to manipulate the asylum process.