Syrian restaurant offers free meal to lawyers who helped stop Rwanda deportation flight

A Syrian restaurant in London has offered a free meal to lawyers who helped prevent the Tuesday deportation of asylum seekers from the UK to Rwanda.

Imad's Syrian Kitchen made the offer after what would have been the first deportation flight under a highly contentious UK-Rwanda deal, which was called off after a last minute judgement by the European Court of Human Rights.

Some supporters of the Rwanda deportation agreement have criticised lawyers who have worked to oppose it, branding them "activist lawyers" and saying they have far-left political views.

"To every 'activist lawyer' who worked tirelessly to stop yesterday's flight from taking off to Rwanda, you and a plus one are invited to a free dinner at our restaurant. Thank you," Imad's Syrian Kitchen tweeted on Wednesday.

Twitter users welcomed the offer, with one asking if there was a way to donate to "help cover costs and support your restaurant".

Syrians! Coming over here…and standing up for human rights..! https://t.co/FrnFTKfjVa

— kristyan benedict (@KreaseChan) June 15, 2022

Amnesty International UK crisis response manager Kristyan Benedict also responded, saying: "Syrians! Coming over here… and standing up for human rights..!"

Another Twitter user said they would soon be eating at Imad's Syrian Kitchen.

"I've heard great things about the food there," the user wrote.

"Now it seems the owner is also a great person. Coming your way next weekend."

Britain had planned to deport around 37 individuals to Rwanda on Tuesday, the BBC cited a Home Office source as saying.

That number plummeted to just seven on Monday following legal appeals.

A European Court of Human Rights decision on the day opened the door to further legal proceedings in the UK, and the plane ultimately did not leave.