Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry
Fake Asylum Tactics: From Staged Protests to AI-Generated Evidence
Undercover investigations have revealed a growing network of tactics designed to fabricate asylum claims. These include misleading online platforms, orchestrating fake demonstrations, and even pretending to be atheists. The practice has created a deceptive industry where migrants pay for guidance on how to present false narratives to immigration authorities.
The Undercover Operation
In early April, a reporter posing as a Bangladeshi student visited an office near Mile End Road in east London. During a Tuesday evening meeting, he was instructed on crafting an asylum application. Zahid Hasan Akhand, claiming to be a barrister, outlined strategies to mislead the Home Office. He described three paths: persecution based on sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or political views. The reporter was to choose one, with Akhand handling the legal aspects while the client created supporting evidence.
“You would say that you became an atheist after coming here. You were not one in Bangladesh,” Akhand said.
Akhand emphasized the need for tangible proof. For a claim of atheism, the process began with social media posts mocking Islam or the Prophet Muhammad. “Religious clerics will start making comments threatening to kill you. Then you will see that your evidence has been created,” he explained. He also suggested using AI tools like ChatGPT to draft articles for atheist magazines, further strengthening the illusion of genuine conversion.
Staged Evidence and Partner Networks
To bolster claims, fake evidence was required. Akhand promised connections to individuals who could generate posts or letters. For the gay route, he advised creating membership records in clubs and securing a partner to submit a testimonial. “If you go to those associations, you will not get caught out. Most of the people there are not gay,” he noted.
“For gay cases, it’s private, but politics and atheism are public,” Akhand said. “So establishing that is a bit difficult.”
The political path was described as more complex, needing a legal argument against the applicant’s home country. Akhand claimed it was easier to fake a gay identity, as authorities rarely scrutinize past claims. “Everyone is being successful, God willing,” he remarked. “If you listen and get the evidence arranged properly, it will be successful.”
Akhand’s Qualifications and the System’s Vulnerability
Akhand qualified as a barrister in 2022 but lacks a practicing license. This raises questions about the credibility of his advice. Despite this, he assured the reporter that the system could be manipulated. “There is no way to know who is an atheist and who is not… You just told me that you are not an atheist, which means you are not an atheist,” he stated.
The scheme highlights how the asylum process can be exploited through carefully constructed falsehoods. By leveraging social media, AI, and fake partnerships, individuals and advisers create a web of deception that appears authentic to immigration officials.