Man reportedly fled to the UK after being sentenced to five years’ jail for refusing to fire at Iranian protesters

Priti Patel announced last week that the first deportation flight to Rwanda would leave on 14 June. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA
Guardian: Priti Patel has been accused of trying to deport a former senior Iranian police officer who fled to the UK after giving first-hand testimony of potential human rights violations by the Iranian government.
Counsel for the Iran Atrocities Tribunal –also known as the Aban Tribunal – in London has written to the home secretary saying that a named former officer in the Iranian police has been detained in the UK and been told he will be sent 4,000 miles to Rwanda next week.
In a letter seen by the Guardian the counsel claims the former officer fled to the UK in May after being sentenced to five years in an Iranian prison for refusing orders in 2019 to fire indiscriminately upon crowds of protesters.
Patel announced last week that the first deportation flight to Rwandawould leave on 14 June. Lawyers believe the flight may be delayed because of legal challenges.