Female asylum seekers report sexual assaults by British men

newsSep 13, 202612278

Female asylum seekers have told the Guardian they were raped or sexually assaulted by British men but feared pursuing criminal prosecutions because they thought reporting might jeopardise their asylum claims. One woman said a hotel staff member repeatedly harassed her, took her number from the hotel database and began texting, and she was moved after reporting him. A woman placed in Home Office accommodation near Heathrow said a security guard raped her; she declined to make a police statement because she feared UK police would be like those in Iran and that reporting could harm her claim. A lesbian asylum seeker from Uganda said a private immigration lawyer forced her to have sex as payment when she could not afford legal fees. All three women were later granted refugee status. The article notes only a handful of convictions of asylum seekers for serious sexual offences and that there is no comprehensive published data on crimes by asylum seekers. A Home Affairs select committee inquiry has heard evidence of inadequate safeguarding in asylum accommodation, with the British Red Cross telling the committee that poor safeguards have placed extraordinary strain on frontline support teams and giving examples including a staff member attempting to use a key card to enter a woman’s hotel room.

Dan Sohege

@danielsohege.bsky.social

While the "protect women and girls" far right lot will be silent on this, it also shows up the issues within an ever increasingly hostile and draconian asylum system where people are fearful of being flagged in any way in case it affects their claims. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

2053h ago

johnw60.bsky.social12

Perhaps the Home Office should send a leaflet to British men?

Holly Brigstocke5

It's the same as the abuse in NHS gender clinics. You can't have an opinion of your own or you'll get benched by the docs. No surprise sexual abuse of asylum seekers goes unreported. It's the same power dynamic.

Dustin Du Cane1

violent rapists going to violently rape. They did it to British born women first.

Quoting this

Dylan Black Lanterns4

When I worked as part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, overseeing the matching process of Ukrainian refugees with sponsors, we followed strict guidelines on the placement of single women. Lone men who wanted to match with single women would sometimes get very shirty when told it posed a risk.

Bard Of The Revolution3

Maybe the Government should be sending British men a leaflet to teach them its not okay to harass women in the UK? Just a thought….

Luke McGee

@lukemcgee.bsky.social

Female asylum seekers are reporting rapes and sexual assaults by British men but many say they are too fearful to pursue criminal prosecutions. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

361h ago

Quoting this

Tauriq Moosa5

Every accusation is a confession with conservative shitbags

Nic4

There are times when I genuinely think humanity needs to die out as a species

Jane

@localnotail.bsky.social

Protect *all* women and girls Female asylum seekers report being sexually assaulted by British men. Women say they are too fearful to pursue criminal prosecution of rapes, for fear of having their claims refused.

151h ago

Andrew Whiteley

@andrewwhiteley.bsky.social

I'm sure we will be hearing from Farage with his 'pure cold rage', Little Tommy Ten Names and Rupert Lowe any minute now about this... www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

101h ago

Dave Brockman 💙💛

@davebrockman.bsky.social

As if the story isn't already grim enough, the sub-heading is a kick in the guts: "Women say they are too fearful to pursue criminal prosecution of rapes, for fear of having their claims refused" Still, I'm sure the "pRoTeCt ArE wImMiN" bunch will be on the case. 🤮

53h ago

Maryam Aldossari

@maryamaldossari.bsky.social

Female asylum seekers report being sexually assaulted by British men. “I was also worried that if I reported the rape it would make it more likely that my asylum claim would be refused.” www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

53h ago

Lou Hart

@loupgarou.bsky.social

All those forming Fuehrer Farage's group mind claiming to protect women & girls, take note www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

2h ago

sallynicholson.bsky.social

@sallynicholson.bsky.social

The rallying cry by far-right agitator Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, to motivate his black balaclava-clad followers, focused almost exclusively on unsubstantiated claims of widespread rape perpetrated by asylum seekers. www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

12h ago

skouwski

@skouwski.bsky.social

“Using violence against women and girls to demonise people seeking safety here is a dangerous distraction. This violence is a systemic problem, not one confined to any nationality or immigration status, and it must urgently be treated as one.”

13h ago

NM 💛🤍💜🖤

@nm0nm0.bsky.social

This makes my blood boil! A security guard, a lawyer etc are meant to protect vulnerable people not rape and abuse them! My heart breaks for these women. Female asylum seekers report being sexually assaulted by British men www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

3h ago

Bob White

@rwdwhite.bsky.social

Where does this fit into to the far right’s fighting age males narrative? www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

2h ago

Irritated Llama

@irritatedllama.bsky.social

• Darren Francis, BNP, sexual relationship with 13 year old. • Christopher Gamlin, Britain First: 21 mths, grooming & trying to incite a child into sexual activity. • Pete Gillett, EDL speaker: 18 years, multiple offences of rape and indecent assault on children.

2d ago

1 source

theguardian.comFemale asylum seekers report being sexually assaulted by British men

Female asylum seekers report sexual assaults by British mennews

Female asylum seekers report sexual assaults by British men

Related