Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

New immigration rules will keep out human rights abusers

The Telegraph

By James Hall 30 Apr 2012

Foreigners who have been accused of serious human rights abuses will be banned from visiting the UK under tough new immigration requirements to be outlined today.

The measures will allow ministers to ban non-EU citizens from entering the UK where “credible” evidence exists of past or continuing human rights abuses by the individuals.

The measures will to be included in the Foreign Office’s annual Human Rights Report, which is released today.

Currently people can only be prevented from entering the UK if they are viewed as a threat to national security. Visitors can not be excluded from entering the country on the basis of human rights abuses.

The change has been driven by Foreign Office ministers and Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister.

The new immigration requirements will only stand when there is “independent” and “reliable” evidence that the person has been involved in human rights abuses.
The new rule will state that: “Foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area may only come to the UK if they satisfy the requirements of the immigration rules.

“Where there is independent, reliable and credible evidence that an individual has committed human rights abuses, the individual will not normally be permitted to enter the UK.”

However the new rules will not lead to a blanket ban on entry for human-rights abusing foreign officials, including heads of state.