High Court to hear case of former interpreters who assisted the British Army.
The High Court will hear a legal challenge on behalf of two former interpreters, employed by the British armed forces in Afghanistan, over the assistance they have been offered by the British Government to protect them and their families.
The three-day judicial review hearing is listed to begin at the High Court on 6 May 2015.
In June last year at a permission hearing in the High Court it was ruled "arguable" that the men had been "unlawfully treated differently" from the Iraqi interpreters who had also needed assistance when their lives became endangered through working for the British forces during and after the Iraq war.
In his judgment in June 2014 Mr Justice Mitting said the case should go to a full hearing at which the Government would have to justify any difference in treatment.
The lawyer for the two men, Rosa Curling from law firm Leigh Day, has revealed that one of her clients, AL, remains in Afghanistan and is in constant danger of Taliban death threats.
As a result of these threats, AL has a court order put in place to protect his identity. He and his family are viewed by the Taliban as "infidel spies" who should be killed for the work they did for the British forces in Afghanistan.
Rosa Curling from law firm Leigh Day, who is representing the two men, said the claim, if successful, will be of benefit to many ex-interpreters employed by the British before December 2012, most of whom are now seeking assistance from the UK to ensure they and their families can live safely outside Afghanistan.
In December 2012, when the Prime Minister announced the drawdown of UK forces from Afghanistan, a new scheme was introduced to aid interpreters and other local staff deemed to be engaged in "dangerous and challenging roles" with the British and under threat from the Taliban.
But the scheme was restricted to staff who had been in post on December 19, 2012 and had served more than 12 months.
With certain exceptions, staff whose employment had ended before that date, either voluntarily or for disciplinary reasons, were not eligible.
Ms Curling said: "Just because these men stopped working for the British forces prior to this date does not mean the Taliban are not targeting them.
“Former interpreters employed before 19 December 2012 are being threatened with death in the same way as those who were and are employed after this date.
"The current policy adopted by the Government is discriminatory when compared with the more favourable treatment of Iraqi interpreters. It is also completely irrational," said Ms Curling.
"The Taliban aren't checking what date interpreters were employed by the British to decide whether or not to try and kill them.
"Many of the former interpreters, who do not qualify under the current policy, provided great service to the UK forces in Afghanistan.
"They served with great distinction and valour before December 2012 and have been on the run since.
"These men and their families are being ignored by the UK Government and after the Western forces leave later this year, things will only get worse for them.
"The bravery of these men must be recognised and they must be assisted to safety without further delay.”
