Britain’s shame: Afghan hero interpreter refused asylum is slaughtered by Taliban

An army interpreter has been captured and killed in Iran (file picture)

AN AFGHAN interpreter who was "abandoned" by Britain after helping our troops defeat Osama Bin Laden has been captured and executed whilst trying to flee the Taliban.

 

The interpreter - known to British soldiers as Popal - was tortured and murdered after being found by militias in Iran whilst trying to make his way to Europe. 

He was seriously wounded during his time serving alongside UK troops in Afghanistan, but had turned to Germany for refuge after Britain rejected his pleas for asylum. 

His friends revealed that he had received repeated written and phoned death threats from the Taliban shortly before he was murdered.

However, they had been dismissed by the British government who said there was not enough evidence, even though his brother had already been executed by the Taliban in his own home for working with UK forces. 

Today one friend raged: "It is disgusting the British let him down after he risked his life to help them, and to save their lives, now he has lost his own." 

 

Interpreters say they have been abandoned to their deaths by the British government

Interpreters who worked for the British army are summarily executed as 'traitors' by the extremists, who believe they are western spies. 

Another four of Popal's fellow interpreters are feared to have also been killed after soldiers intercepted a gang of people smugglers taking them to Europe. 

Their families believe the men may have been killed by the Iranian authorities or by militias, possibly from the Taliban or Al Qaeda. 

 

If you say you have worked for the British or the Americans, then it is likely you will be killed

Military source

One source who served with British forces alongside Popal said interpreters who have been denied refuge by the UK government are increasingly turning to people smugglers in desperation. 

They told the Daily Mail: "Anyone they find who has worked for Britain or allied forces is tortured and killed, the smugglers have told us, because they are seen as Western spies. 

"The smugglers warn us before we begin the journey that there is a good chance we will be captured and that if that happens 'you are on your own'.

"Some Afghans who were stopped making the journey to Europe have been enrolled in the Iranian military and sent to fight in Syria. 

"Others have been brutally questioned. If you say you have worked for the British or the Americans,

then it is likely you will be killed." 

 

Around 23 interpreters who have been refused asylum have successfully reached Europe, with 20 of those thought to be in Germany. 

Popal, who was wounded in Helmand while serving with the Parachute Regiment, is believed to have been executed near the Iranian city of Mashhad.

He had paid people smugglers £6,500 in a desperate bid to reach Germany from his home in the volatile province of Kandahar, where the Taliban has its strongest presence. 

His friend said: "The British did not believe that Popal’s life was in danger but he believed that if he stayed in Afghanistan he would be killed.

"He had written and telephone threats … and escaped an ambush so he said he had no alternative but to try to reach Germany.

"It was a last resort but the decision is simple. If he stayed, he knew he would be hunted down. If he went, he would at least have a chance of an honest life not wondering who is behind him all the time." 

 

Yesterday it emerged that another interpreter who worked for Gordon Brown when the then Prime Minister visited Afghanistan is set to pay smugglers £5,000 to journey along the same route as Popal after also being "abandoned" by Britain. 

The man, known as Chris, said he has never received a reply despite numerous requests for asylum in Britain, in contrast to interpreters who served with US and Canadian forces and have been given sanctuary.

The Government said that each case is individually examined and assessed by British officials in Afghanistan.