A BBC investigation has uncovered a shadowy industry dedicated to fabricating evidence for bogus asylum claims in the UK, with undercover footage revealing how advisers coach applicants on deception techniques.
From staged political protests to fake news websites and paid-for articles in atheist magazines, the methods used to bolster fraudulent applications are both sophisticated and alarming. In one covert recording, a man presenting himself as a barrister outlined three primary routes for fabricated claims: pretending to be gay, atheist, or a political activist.
"For a legal fee of £1,500, I would help in preparing your application, preparing you for the interview, taking repeated mock interviews," said Zahid Hasan Akhand during a meeting with an undercover reporter posing as a Bangladeshi student. "But you would also need to create evidence."
Akhand detailed how evidence could be manufactured for each scenario:
-
For atheism claims: Applicants would post inflammatory content on social media insulting Islam, then be introduced to atheist organizations where they could pay to publish articles. "You could use AI tools like ChatGPT to write blog posts," he suggested, adding that attending live events for former Muslims was crucial since "this is not the age of posts anymore, it is the age of live videos."
-
For fake gay claims: Evidence would include club memberships, visits to LGBTQ+ venues, and even providing a pretend partner who would write a supporting letter. "Most of the people there are not gay," Akhand noted about the associations.
-
For political activism: This route was described as more difficult, requiring fabricated legal cases in the applicant's home country.
When asked about success rates for such fabricated cases, Akhand responded: "Everyone is being successful, God willing. If you listen and get the evidence arranged properly, it will be successful."
"You just told me that you are not an atheist, which means you are not an atheist. But there is no system to check these things."
Akhand, who qualified as a barrister in 2022 but does not hold a licence to practise, denied any illegal or dishonest behavior, stating the meeting was merely introductory and that he hadn't provided regulated immigration advice.
The investigation revealed this was not an isolated case. Between 2018 and 2021, a network of fake news websites was created specifically to support asylum claims, with articles naming applicants as targets of lawsuits or homophobic abuse that don't appear on any genuine media outlets.
These websites, largely filled with plagiarized content from legitimate news sources, were traced back to individuals connected to the asylum industry. One site listed an "editor-in-chief" with no other online presence whatsoever.
Additional evidence submitted in fraudulent applications included:
- Photos from staged political protests organized purely for documentation purposes
- Articles published on a Bangladeshi gay rights website that was only active during the application period and has since disappeared
- Medical conditions that were either exaggerated or completely fabricated
The revelations raise serious questions about the integrity of the UK's asylum system and the ease with which determined individuals can manipulate it with professional assistance. As one source involved in the investigation noted: "The system is being systematically gamed, and genuine refugees may suffer as a result."