Former Afghan Police Worker Threatened by Taliban Following UK Data Leak and Resettlement Rejection

A former member of the Afghan national police special unit, identified under the pseudonym Hamid, has received threats from the Taliban after his personal details were exposed in a UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) data breach and his application for UK resettlement was refused. Hamid provided years of service alongside British efforts in Afghanistan, earning official certificates signed by senior British figures that praised his dedication, leadership, and unparalleled service. Despite this recognized service, the UK government rejected his resettlement request. Hamid's information was compromised in an accidental 2022 leak caused by an MoD official, which exposed the identities of 18,700 Afghans who worked with or for the British government. Following the data breach and the UK's refusal to grant him refuge, Hamid now lives in constant fear of Taliban retaliation.