LONDON (ANS) -- An Afghan Muslim who claims he killed people while fighting for the Taliban has used the Human Rights Act to remain in Britain – despite Government efforts to deport him.

According to a story by the Daily Mail’s Andy Whelan, Zareen Ahmadzai, 30, who spent three years fighting in Afghanistan, has admitted using a Kalashnikov rifle and firing rockets, as well as supplying weapons and food to the Taliban.

The British Home Office rejected his claim for asylum, and when his appeal also failed, Ahmadzai was detained at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Center in West London while awaiting deportation.

The Daily Mail said when Ahmadzai, who initially did not speak English, launched a new appeal, he was able to overturn the Home Office’s case on the grounds that his life would be at risk if he returned home.

The Daily Mail commented that this decision is another setback for Home Secretary Theresa May, who is under pressure to reform human rights laws following a series of high-profile cases in which Muslim extremists have avoided deportation.

The Daily Mail said Ahmadzai arrived in Britain illegally in May 2010 after traveling from Afghanistan in trucks. Two days later he was arrested at an address in Wolverhampton and claimed asylum. When the Home Office ordered he be deported, he appealed to the immigration court.

Although a judge rejected his appeal, Ahmadzai took his case to the Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber.

According to the Daily Mail, the tribunal heard Ahmadzai joined the Taliban after his father, who was a commander in Helmand province, was shot dead by US soldiers during a battle. He said that he killed people during his fighting with the Taliban as well as supplying the group with weapons, water and food.

The Daily Mail reported the court ruling said, “He believed that he was advancing the cause of Islam. He said that his father was shot during fighting against the Americans. The appellant used to fight for the Taliban. He said that he had killed people. On different occasions he had used a Kalashnikov and also a pistol.”

The ruling continued, “He was involved in fighting over a three-year period according to need. He indicated that he had been in ‘a lot’ of battles, sometimes two or three a night as well as daylight
fighting.”

The Daily Mail reported that Ahmadzai claims when he tried to leave the Taliban after he realized innocent people were being killed, he was taken to a mountain and tortured.

Ahmadzai alleges that shortly afterwards he fled the country but cannot return because his life would be in danger from both the Taliban and the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), who oppose the Islamic extremist group.

The Daily Mail reported the court ruling said, “He was asked why he could not relocate, for example, to Kabul. He asked rhetorically if a murderer could expect to relocate in London. He said the police would look for the murderer just as the Taliban and the authorities would look for him.”

The Daily Mail said psychologists who have examined Ahmadzai say they believe he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, which is caused by highly stressful or frightening events, such as armed combat.

Although the Home Office disputed Ahmadzai’s story and did not believe he was wanted by either the Taliban or the ANSF, the Daily Mail reported Senior Immigration Judge Jonathan Perkins ruled that he must not be deported. The case was heard at the tribunal in June last year, but the judgment was only announced in March.

Jeremy Reynalds is Senior Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, a freelance writer and also the founder and CEO of Joy Junction, New Mexico's largest emergency homeless shelter, http://www.joyjunction.org He has a master's degree in communication from the University of New Mexico, and a Ph.D. in intercultural education from Biola University in Los Angeles. His newest book is "Homeless in the City." Additional details on "Homeless in the City" are available at http://www.homelessinthecity.com. Reynalds lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For more information contact: Jeremy Reynalds at jeremyreynalds@comcast.net.