A former British Council teacher at risk of Taliban attack in Afghanistan has said his life in hiding is like a “horror movie” as he waits to learn when he can flee to the UK under a Government visa scheme
‘Like a horror movie’: Ex-British Council teacher trapped in Afghanistan over UK visa delays
Ahmed, 30, not his real name, said he is “frustrated” with how long the Government is taking to confirm his eligibility to escape to Britain under its Afghan citizens resettlement scheme despite applying nine months ago.despite them being included among at-risk groups for whom pathway 3 of the ACRS was intended to prioritise. But since it was launched in January, 2022, nobody has been evacuated to the UK under pathway 3.for retribution.
But he blames the British Council, who he said failed to inform him and other teachers about an earlier UK relocation scheme, the Afghan relocations and assistance policy until it was too late, he said. “We were working among the people. The staff that do stuff working inside the British Council, no one knew about them. We were the frontliners. And now we have been stamped as British spies.”Joe Seaton, a former British Council employee whose organisation At Risk Teachers is in touch with 109 former teachers who are still in hiding in Afghanistan, branded the “inconsistencies” between approval for Arap and ACRS “very disappointing”.
“The British Council should have ensured all current and former employees were informed about ARAP, supported in their applications, and given an equal chance for Arab approval. They failed to do this, and many of their former employees have been living in hiding since.”“The Taliban have been to our home asking my parents about my location,” he said. “They threatened that if they wouldn’t tell about my location, there would be a problem for them, they might take them to the jail, detain them.
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