The government could now face a bill of millions in damages for unlawfully detaining more than 60 people for such a long period.
More than 60 Tamil asylum seekers became stranded on the tropical island of Diego Garcia - halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean - in October 2021 after their boat started leaking.
En route to Canada, where they hoped to claim asylum, they were rescued by the Royal Navy, which is part of a military presence on the UK territory. The US leases land from the UK on the island for a strategically sensitive military base.
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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