Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry

Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry

Asylum seekers and their consultants are employing a range of deceptive tactics to support fabricated claims, from crafting false news articles to organizing fabricated demonstrations and pretending to be atheists. These methods form part of a growing network of charlatans exploiting the UK’s immigration system, as revealed in the first phase of a covert investigation. Among the techniques uncovered was the practice of charging migrants for guidance on how to feign homosexuality as a basis for asylum, alongside paying for articles in atheist publications and hiring actors to simulate same-sex partnerships.

The undercover reporter’s journey began at a small office near Mile End Road in east London during an early April Tuesday evening. Disguised as a Bangladeshi university dropout considering asylum, he was given a lesson on how to manipulate the Home Office’s processes. Zahid Hasan Akhand, introduced as a barrister, outlined the three main strategies for someone in his position: facing persecution due to sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views. While Akhand would handle the legal aspects, the reporter was expected to choose a narrative—whether as a gay individual, an atheist, or a political activist—and align his actions accordingly.

Akhand emphasized that each claim required careful preparation. For a £1,500 fee, he promised to assist with “application drafting, interview rehearsals, and repeated mock interviews.” However, the reporter would also need to generate supporting evidence to prove authenticity. Akhand claimed to have contacts who could help fabricate such documents, costing between £2,000 and £3,000, depending on the claim type. For instance, if the reporter opted for an atheist claim, he would be advised to create social media content mocking Islam or the Prophet Muhammad, prompting religious figures to issue threats. “Religious clerics will start making comments threatening to kill you. Then you will see that your evidence has been created,” Akhand stated.

“You would say that you became an atheist after coming here. You were not one in Bangladesh,” he added. “You could have written under a pseudonym if you were in Bangladesh.”

For the gay claim, Akhand suggested fabricating club memberships and arranging fake partnerships. “The kind of evidence they provide includes membership in different clubs, taking you to different clubs, since in the asylum interview you will be asked which clubs you attend and similar questions. You will also be given a partner, and that partner will provide a letter saying that ‘yes, he was my partner,’” he explained. He noted that attending events for former Muslims could further bolster credibility, as “this is not the age of posts anymore, it is the age of live videos.”

Political asylum was deemed more complex, requiring a legal case against the applicant in their home country. Akhand argued that gay claims were easier to navigate, as “they will not dig too much into your past story.” He claimed that political or religious claims demanded more scrutiny, making them harder to sustain. Despite this, Akhand assured the reporter that “everyone is being successful, God willing,” as long as evidence was properly organized. “If you listen and get the evidence arranged properly, it will be successful,” he said.

Akhand qualified as a barrister in 2022 but lacks a full practice license, leaving his role as a legal advisor in question. Yet, his confidence in the system’s vulnerability to such tactics remained unshaken.