AA v The Secretary of State for the Home Department

Facts

The appellant, AA, is an Afghan national from Baghlan Province who claimed protection in the United Kingdom on 21 March 2024. His account was that he and his brother had for some three and a half to four years supplied food and logistical support to Afghan police and army units before the Taliban takeover, and that he was in consequence at risk from the Taliban. He said that Taliban members had stopped them while they were conducting their business, that his brother escaped and he was abducted and detained for around two months, during which he was assaulted and interrogated about their activities, before being freed by government forces. He asserted a risk on return by reason of imputed political opinion, and in the alternative claimed humanitarian protection and relief on human rights grounds. The Secretary of State refused the protection claim on 30 September 2024, accepting the appellant's identity and nationality but rejecting as not credible his account of government-related work, Taliban detention and any continuing adverse interest. The appellant lodged his appeal to the First-tier Tribunal on 9 October 2024 under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. He did not comply with successive directions to serve evidence, served only an appeal skeleton argument, was unrepresented by the date of hearing and did not attend it.