The "rapid" review by the British Ministry of Interior of the decision to ban the arrival in Britain of refugees living in the territory of the Dhekelia base, was ordered on Thursday by the country's Court of Appeals.
The ruling concerns six families originating from Iraq, Sudan, Ethiopia and Syria, whose members were among 75 people rescued off the coast of Cyprus in October 1998 while on a fishing boat bound for Italy.
The boat had problems with the engine, with the result that the specific refugees were abandoned to their fate by the traffickers who had organized their risky passage to the West.
Since then, the families have been living in facilities within the British base of Dhekelia. According to their lawyers, the London governments have refused to recognize their rights as refugees for 18 years.
Their application to settle in the United Kingdom was rejected in November 2014 by then-Home Secretary Theresa May on the grounds that they had no ties to the country and that they could seek asylum and relocate to another part of Cyprus.
The then-prime minister's decision was overturned by a court last year in a first-instance hearing, arguing that although the provisions of the 1951 Refugee Treaty did not apply directly to the cases, the British government had to act. in accordance with the spirit of the Treaty.
The three-member Court of Appeal went a step further yesterday, judging that the Treaty has direct application in the specific cases of refugees. In their verdict, the three judges called on Home Secretary Amber Rand to reconsider the decision, which deprives the six families of the right to settle in the United Kingdom. Judge Irwin said the British government had a "direct responsibility" to the plaintiffs under public international law.
The judge also pointed out the "huge delay" that has affected the lives of families and noted that it is a common assumption that their living conditions are "unacceptable".
"I would consider it irrational and a breach of the obligations towards the refugees if the relocation was not done quickly," the British judge said.
The families' legal representatives spoke of people who have been "legally meteoric" for 18 years and said they were ready to continue fighting until the decision of the British Home Office was changed.
"They have suffered a lot. "Now is the time for the government to show compassion," said one of the lawyers.
The Home Office is reportedly examining the implications of the ruling and whether it will bring the case to the country's Supreme Court with a new appeal, which British media believe is very likely.
Source: SigmaLive