UK distributes code of conduct leaflet to migrants: "Rape and harassment are forbidden"
The UK Home Office has distributed a booklet containing basic rules of conduct for asylum seekers, following a series of sex offenses attributed to migrants. The guidelines, which include explanations on gender equality, sexual consent, and the age of consent, have sparked a storm: "If they need to be taught how to behave in a civilized manner - they should be deported."
The UK Home Office has begun distributing a booklet to asylum seekers containing rules of conduct in British society, including a prohibition on rape and domestic violence, the obligation to obtain consent for sexual relations, and the requirement to respect women in public spaces. The publication of the document, which the government says is intended to clarify to migrants the laws and norms practiced in the Kingdom, has sparked sharp criticism in the political system and the British media.
The nine-page document, titled "Understanding the rules of behavior and expectations in the UK - a guide for asylum seekers," was published by the Home Office alongside a series of posters intended for the housing facilities where asylum seekers stay. The ministry explained that laws and customs in the UK may differ from those in the migrants' countries of origin, and warned that violating them could lead to arrest, imprisonment, loss of housing and government support, and even prejudice against the asylum application.
Among other things, the booklet clarifies that women and men are equal before the law; women do not need a man's permission to work, study, travel, or choose whom to marry; sexual relations require free consent every time - even within marriage; a person who is asleep, drunk, or unable to respond clearly cannot consent; and the age of consent in the UK is 16.
Another chapter deals with behavior in public spaces and instructs asylum seekers not to make sexual comments, whistle, or make kissing sounds at people, follow them, or block their path. The booklet also warns against filming or distributing sexual images without consent and clarifies that domestic violence includes not only physical harm, but also threats, humiliation, and control over money, clothing, or the partner's movements.
The publication of the guidelines came against the backdrop of growing concern in the UK over cultural differences and the behavior of some migrants arriving in the country on small boats, and after several high-profile trials in which asylum seekers were convicted of sex offenses. According to Sky News, the documents are part of a government attempt to clarify that ignorance of the law cannot serve as an excuse for criminal behavior.
However, the very need for the booklet sparked outrage among opponents of immigration policy. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "Instead of trying to teach these illegal migrants, most of whom are young men, how to behave in a civilized manner towards women - they should be deported." Reform UK's home affairs spokesman, Zia Yusuf, called the guide a "disgrace."
On the other hand, critics argued that the booklet broadly labels asylum seekers as a potential threat and as people who do not understand basic rules of conduct. The Home Office emphasized in the document that the rules do not apply only to asylum seekers, but to every person living in the UK, and that it also includes information and helplines for those who have fallen victim to violence or sexual assault.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "We expect everyone who arrives in the UK to obey its laws. Anyone who does not do so will face the consequences, including the rejection of the asylum application and removal from the UK."
