A British tribunal ordered the deportation of a convicted child rapist after ruling his late bisexuality claim was not proven and did not outweigh public safety.
Story Snapshot
- A judge rejected the man’s claim of bisexuality and upheld removal in the public interest.
- The offender was convicted in 2018 of raping a 14-year-old girl and jailed for seven years.
- The Home Office argued his sexuality claim was a fabrication made years after conviction.
- United Kingdom rules set a high bar to block deportation for serious offenders.
What the Tribunal Decided and Why It Matters
On September 5, 2026, an immigration tribunal in the United Kingdom dismissed Karam Majdi’s appeal and said his removal “was and remains in the public interest.” The judge, R Abdar, said he was not satisfied Majdi is bisexual and found he remained a danger to the community. This decision closes a years-long fight over his status after a serious crime. It also shows how public safety can outweigh protection claims in deportation cases.
The Home Office told the tribunal Majdi’s bisexuality claim arose only in 2021 and lacked support. A representative called it an “embellishment” and a “fabrication” made for asylum. Officials pointed to evidence of attraction to girls and no convincing proof of relationships with men. The judge agreed the claim was not proven. That finding removed the main barrier Majdi raised to stop removal to Egypt, where he said he would face harm.
The Criminal Case Driving Public Interest
In 2018, Brighton Crown Court convicted Majdi of raping a 14-year-old girl. The court imposed a seven-year youth custody sentence for the offense. That violent crime placed his case under the United Kingdom’s foreign-national offender rules, where removal is the default unless very strong reasons prevent it. The tribunal’s public-interest language reflects that legal framework, which gives heavy weight to public safety when serious harm is involved.
Tribunals do weigh human-rights risks and protection claims, including for sexual orientation. But the deciding issue here was credibility. The judge said Majdi failed to establish that he is bisexual. Without that, his argument about harm in Egypt did not carry the case. The United Kingdom’s appeals process allows challenges to Home Office decisions, but success rates are limited and depend on strong, consistent evidence.
The Credibility Gate in Sexuality-Based Asylum Claims
United Kingdom guidance tells caseworkers to assess credibility by looking for coherent, consistent accounts backed by evidence where possible. Delayed claims can face extra scrutiny, especially when raised after a criminal conviction. Research on sexual orientation asylum shows many refusals hinge on credibility rather than general country risk. One study found a large share of such rejections linked to disbelief of the identity claim.
Country reports note real dangers for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people in Egypt. While the law does not directly ban same-sex relations, enforcement often uses other charges, and harassment and arrests have been documented. Those risks can win a case when identity is proven. In Majdi’s case, the tribunal did not accept that he is bisexual, and it found the public interest in removal remained strong after his serious offense.
Sources:
humanevents.com, nieuwrechts.nl, noviny.sk, brightonjournal.co.uk, reddit.com, tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk, independent.co.uk, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk
