LGBT activist Peter Tatchell has raised concerns about asylum seekers potentially exploiting his charity to falsely claim homosexuality for immigration purposes.
The veteran campaigner told GB News his foundation has noticed suspicious donation patterns from Pakistani men who later request membership cards.
"We have been concerned about an exceptionally high amount of donations from Pakistani men, some of whom afterwards ask for membership cards. We aren't a membership organisation so we don't have cards," Tatchell said.
He has reported these concerns to the Home Office to protect legitimate refugees seeking asylum in Britain.
Peter Tatchell said he has seen a flurry of asylum seekers claiming they are gay
GB NEWS
The Peter Tatchell Foundation has been helping genuine LGBT refugees for 14 years.
"Sometimes we've had 15-20 to 30 donations in a single day. This is irregular. It sets alarm bells because It looks organised," Tatchell explained.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The foundation has observed these suspicious patterns for approximately 18 months.
Small donations from Pakistani men have soared, with many contributing less than £3.
"We don't want to in any way collude with traffickers or organised criminal gangs," Tatchell added.
The activist expressed concern that these individuals might be attempting to use their donations as evidence of LGBT status.
Peter Tatchell joined Nana Akua on GB News
GB NEWS
Many of these donors subsequently request membership cards or documentation that could potentially support asylum applications.
Tatchell believes these individuals may be attempting to exploit a loophole in the asylum system.
"We are suspicious they are going to go to an asylum tribunal and saying 'I have donated to the Peter Tatchell Foundation, I am a member. This proves I'm gay'. It proves nothing," he said.
The foundation has firmly rejected these attempts.
"We've said no. They are using a donation they make as evidence of membership. It isn't membership," Tatchell explained.
"We will assist genuine refugees but we won't do anything to aid and abet anyone who is trying to do so in suspicious circumstances even though we have no proof these people are bogus."
Tatchell wrote to Home Office immigration chief Joanna Rowland in January about the issue.
"It has come to our attention that some asylum applications from South Asia have referenced the Peter Tatchell Foundation in support of their claims to secure asylum," his letter stated.
The Home Office responded: "We take all claims of abuse of the immigration system extremely seriously, and where found, we will robustly challenge it."
In Pakistan, homosexual activity between men is criminalised with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Immigration tribunals have previously ruled that convicted sex criminals from Pakistan can remain in Britain on that basis.
This is supported by the European Convention on Human Rights.
