The government could now face a bill of millions in damages for unlawfully detaining more than 60 people for such a long period.
More than 60 Tamil asylum seekers became stranded on the tropical island of Diego Garcia - halfway between Tanzania and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean - in October 2021 after their boat started leaking.
En route to Canada, where they hoped to claim asylum, they were rescued by the Royal Navy, which is part of a military presence on the UK territory. The US leases land from the UK on the island for a strategically sensitive military base.
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 17, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Real Madrid take aim at Uefa in bid to revive Super League
Real Madrid have spelled out their commitment to a restructuring of the Champions League in which the clubs not Uefa are in control - essentially a European Super League 2.0.
![United's big reset United's big reset](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/vUBLChfDgNjp6q4HdNqsys/UNITEDS-BIG-RESET.jpg)
United's big reset
Rashford faces cut-price exit as part of club's cultural reboot
![England get horror draw with France, Netherlands and Wales England get horror draw with France, Netherlands and Wales](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/aC8-k5DBK1734402669111/ENGLAND-GET-HORROR-DRAW-WITH-FRANCE-NETHERLANDS-AND-WALES.jpg)
England get horror draw with France, Netherlands and Wales
England, the holders, have been drawn in a group with France, the Netherlands and their neighbours Wales for the 2025 Women's European Championship in Switzerland.
Maguire in 'really positive' contract talks with United
Harry Maguire is discussing a new contract with Manchester United that would commit him to at least a seventh and eighth season at the club.
![Unal's fabulous free-kick earns Bournemouth a point Unal's fabulous free-kick earns Bournemouth a point](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/x2pcuEmzeGAh97eRkrVsys/UNALS-FABULOUS-FREEKICK-EARNS-BOURNEMOUTH-A-POINT.jpg)
Unal's fabulous free-kick earns Bournemouth a point
Bournemouth simply do not know when they are beaten. The substitute Enes Unal powered an unstoppable free-kick into the top corner, seconds after West Ham snatched an unlikely lead courtesy of a contentious penalty.
!['I'm at a turning point - now it's about me playing to see how far I can go' 'I'm at a turning point - now it's about me playing to see how far I can go'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/P1eORIbsBhE58BkatDssys/IM-AT-A-TURNING-POINT-NOW-ITS-ABOUT-ME-PLAYING-TO-SEE-HOW-FAR-I-CAN-GO.jpg)
'I'm at a turning point - now it's about me playing to see how far I can go'
Emma Raducanu was hit by injuries but now feels she has the setup to be able to enjoy life both on and off the court
![Filer brings the thunder after lightning halts Proteas Filer brings the thunder after lightning halts Proteas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/9WeAY3mpujQJCBYQjWMsys/FILER-BRINGS-THE-THUNDER-AFTER-LIGHTNING-HALTS-PROTEAS.jpg)
Filer brings the thunder after lightning halts Proteas
England will go into day three of the Bloemfontein Test in a commanding position, after bowling South Africa out for 281 and increasing their lead to 145 by stumps.
![Stokes' latest injury scare adds to England's bad day Stokes' latest injury scare adds to England's bad day](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/zjqOn47v6k7v1aEDytRsys/STOKES-LATEST-INJURY-SCARE-ADDS-TO-ENGLANDS-BAD-DAY.jpg)
Stokes' latest injury scare adds to England's bad day
On a day in Hamilton that was already foreboding by way of leaden skies, England's troubles deepened well beyond their bleak position at stumps.
![Fury vows to focus on Usyk and cut back showboating Fury vows to focus on Usyk and cut back showboating](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21665/1931363/xWlJC2Mt7tGsKZQTGqxsys/FURY-VOWS-TO-FOCUS-ON-USYK-AND-CUT-BACK-SHOWBOATING.jpg)
Fury vows to focus on Usyk and cut back showboating
When I look in the mirror I don't see a quitter,\" Tyson Fury says as, having suffered the first defeat of his professional career in a dramatic world heavyweight title fight against Oleksandr Usyk in May, he is about to step back into the fire of their rematch this Saturday night in Riyadh. \"I see a man who would do anything to keep going. If I get knocked down nine times, I'll get up 10. If I didn't want to do that, I wouldn't be a boxer, I'd be doing something else, like playing darts. But this is my job.\"
Athletics has funding cut by £1.75m for LA Games buildup
UK Sport has denied putting UK Athletics on the \"naughty step\" after slashing its funding for the Los Angeles Olympic cycle by nearly £1.75m.