A UK flight that was supposed to leave for Rwanda at 10:30 p.m. (local time) on Tuesday to take asylum seekers there, will not depart for the time being. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has prevented the deportation of seven people.

ECtHR has prevented the deportation of refugees from the UK to Rwanda following emergency procedures requested by an Iraqi migrant. The judge ruled that the safety of the people could not be guaranteed in an African country. This was reported by the charity Care4Calais on Tuesday evening.

Seven people who were unwanted by London were scheduled to be taken to Rwanda. The court’s decision resulted in the cancellation of the entire flight.

Care4Calais is the first to report that ECtHR has ended the departure of only Iraqi migrants. “That means that it is now also possible for the other six to claim something like this. We are very relieved.”

ECtHR confirmed the ruling. Iraqis were allowed to stay for another three weeks. Hours later it became clear that the other six people would also not be sent to Rwanda. A British government official said the departure had been delayed.

Prime Minister Johnson still considers initial plan ‘prudent’

Britain signed an agreement with Rwanda in April to accept illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in the African country for a fee. The plan sparked a storm of protest. Human rights activists tried to prevent its implementation through British courts, but were unable to do so.

With this move, the government in London wants to prevent migrants from France from making the dangerous crossing into the UK. This often happens on rickety boats with the help of people smugglers.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed disappointment at what he called “legal efforts to undermine safe routes for asylum seekers”. The British plan “makes sense”, he said.

Johnson hinted that Britain was looking at ways to implement the plan. “Is it necessary to change some laws to move us forward? It could be, and all these options are under review.”