An Iranian asylum seeker, Roozbeh, who converted to Christianity, faces deportation to Rwanda amid safety fears, while a new BBC podcast, “Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion,” delves into the dark world of human smuggling.
An Iranian asylum seeker, identified as Roozbeh, is facing potential deportation from the UK to Rwanda. Roozbeh, who converted to Christianity—a move that left him persecuted in his home country—travelled to the UK via hazardous smuggling routes, involving lorries and dinghies, before being rescued by the Border Force. Now in Liverpool, he has expressed a profound fear of being deported to Rwanda, describing deep safety concerns and likening the situation to “a recurring nightmare.”
In another exploration of migration and associated risks, the BBC has launched a new podcast titled “Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion,” led by journalist Sue Mitchell and former soldier Rob Lawrie. The series investigates the dangerous operations of an international people smuggling ring headed by Barzan Majeed, alias Scorpion. Majeed was tried and sentenced in absentia to 10 years for trafficking offences in Bruges in 2022. The podcast also highlights the shifting tactics of smugglers from boats to lorries and uncovers some extreme risks migrants face during their perilous journeys.
