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More than 100 Iranians have tried to enter the UK by small boat in the past month

A Border Force patrol boat in Dover Marina, Kent, after seven suspected migrants were rescued from a dinghy earlier this month (Picture: PA)
A Border Force patrol boat in Dover Marina, Kent, after seven suspected migrants were rescued from a dinghy earlier this month (Picture: PA)

More than 100 migrants who say they are Iranian have tried to enter the UK by boat in the past month, it has been reported.

The BBC said 101 migrants, including four children, have attempted to cross the English Channel since November 3.

On November 23, eight migrants were found on a dinghy in dangerous waters off the coast of Kent, telling their rescuers they had spent 12 hours at sea.

The previous day, a total of 14 people found in boats near Dover, Kent.

The migrants have all told officials that they are from Iran, the BBC reported.

Miodrag Ćakić, chief executive of Refugee Aid Serbia, said the migrants could be among thousands who went to Serbia after it began offering visa-free access to Iranians in August 2017.

The scheme was originally set up to give a boost to tourism and trade between the two nations, but it was ended last month, after a total of 40,000 Iranians were said to flown to Serbia.

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It has been reported that flights from Tehran to Belgrade would arrive in Serbia completely full, then return to Iran empty.

Info Park, a refugee support centre in Belgrade, said Serbian police estimate that up to 12,000 Iranians failed to return.

Migrants have been making the dangerous crossing to Dover (Picture: PA)
Migrants have been making the dangerous crossing to Dover (Picture: PA)

Mr Ćakić said it is believed that Iranians are using “false passports and more complex methods” to enter western Europe, staying in hostels and hotels rather than squats.

Kaveh Kalantri, of the Iranian Association, told the BBC that human rights violations were driving Iranians out of their country.

He said: “People get arrested if they have liberal or left-wing views, or if they are from religious minorities. A lot of people experience violence on a daily basis.”

“Iranians coming to the UK is not unusual, but the way they are coming is.”

Iranian citizens have made more applications for UK asylum in the past two years that any other nationality, the Home Office says.

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