Darfuri asylum seekers ruling "Balanced and wise"

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 4th Apr 2007

Commenting on the Court of Appeal ruling today halting the deportation of three Darfuri asylum-seekers to Sudanese refugee or squatter camps, Liberal Democrat Shadow Attorney General, Simon Hughes MP said:

"The Court of Appeal's decision is balanced and wise. It is vital that the final say on the rights of asylum seekers is taken by judges, not the Government.

"Any country which claims to uphold human rights must allow people to stay if conditions in their own country could means ill treatment, unduly harsh conditions, or life with no food or water.

"Every case like this is an argument for greater international pressure and action to bring peace and decency back to Darfur and end the conflict which has killed so many and forced so many others to leave."