Bogus websites, staged protests and pretend atheists: Inside the fake asylum industry
Inside the Manufactured Asylum Claims Industry
Our investigation into the UK’s immigration system revealed a network of tactics designed to create misleading narratives for asylum applications. These include fabricated news sites, orchestrated demonstrations, and even staged identities as non-believers. At the core of this operation is the deliberate construction of false evidence to support claims that appear credible to immigration officials.
During an undercover session in early April, a reporter posing as a Bangladeshi student visited a London office near Mile End Road. The session focused on strategies to manipulate the Home Office into granting asylum. A self-proclaimed barrister named Zahid Hasan Akhand outlined three potential paths: persecution based on sexual orientation, religious conviction, or political beliefs. Each required tailored evidence, with Akhand offering legal guidance for £1,500 and additional support for crafting proof.
Staged Evidence for Atheist Claims
For those targeting religious grounds, Akhand suggested generating social media content critical of Islam. “Religious clerics will begin commenting with threats to your life,” he explained. This would create a narrative of persecution. He also recommended using AI tools like ChatGPT to draft articles or blog posts for atheist publications, both in the UK and Bangladesh, to amplify the claim.
“No system exists to verify if someone is truly an atheist… You just say you aren’t, and that becomes your proof,” Akhand remarked.
To strengthen the case, the reporter would need to attend events organized by groups for former Muslims and participate in discussions. “Live videos now carry more weight than posts,” he emphasized. Akhand claimed that even if the applicant wasn’t an atheist, the fabricated evidence would suffice.
Pretending to Be Gay or Politically Active
The gay claim route, Akhand said, was more straightforward. “Private matters are easier to disguise,” he noted. He would connect the reporter with individuals who could provide fake testimonials, such as letters from a supposed same-sex partner. For political asylum, the process required a detailed legal case against the applicant’s home country, making it more complex.
“For gay cases, they won’t dig deep into your past. It’s all about creating the illusion of a credible story,” Akhand said.
Akhand admitted that many claims are built on falsehoods. “Everyone succeeds, God willing,” he claimed, as long as evidence was carefully arranged. The undercover reporter was instructed to choose between atheism or homosexuality as their basis and then receive a complete plan from Akhand.
Zahid Hasan Akhand qualified as a barrister in 2022 but lacks a formal license to practice, raising questions about his authority. Despite this, he confidently assured the reporter that the fabricated system would work. The result: a growing industry where migrants pay for authenticity, and the Home Office is left to assess the truth of their stories.
