Afghan Asylum Seekers Accused of Rape Face 2027 Trial in UK

Seven Afghan nationals accused of raping two teenage girls are scheduled to face a trial in May 2027. The men, who are asylum seekers that arrived in the UK via boat and lorry, have pleaded not guilty to all 38 charges.

Norfolk Police stated that the charges stem from an investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in Norwich. The alleged offences occurred between August 2023 and May 2025. The victims were in their early to mid-teens at the time of the alleged incidents.

The trial, initially slated for Norwich Crown Court, has been moved to Southwark Crown Court. The earliest proposed start date is May 4, 2027, though a judge and specific date have not yet been confirmed. The case involves seven defendants who are all in custody.

One of the charged individuals, Bilal Shinwari, 20, entered the UK on a small boat in November 2022. The seven men had been granted asylum in the UK, according to Norfolk Police. The force also clarified that none of the charged men resided in asylum hotels in Norfolk, and the alleged offending did not occur in such facilities.

Details of the charges include:

Ahmadzai, 20, denies nine counts of rape, two of conspiracy to rape, one of facilitating human trafficking, and one of perverting the course of justice. Khalili, 20, denies seven charges of rape, one of conspiracy to rape, and one of facilitating human trafficking. Auryakhel, 20, denies one count of rape. Kaker, 20, denies four counts of rape, one of conspiracy to rape, and one of facilitating human trafficking. Mohammed Shinwary, 20, denies two counts of rape. Ahamad, 21, denies one count of rape and three counts of facilitating human trafficking. Davodzai, 20, denies four counts of rape and one of conspiracy to rape. Bilal Shinwari denies four charges, including two counts of rape of a girl under 16, one of conspiring to rape a girl under 16, and one of conspiring to rape a woman aged 16 or over.

Police reported that five of the men arrived via small boat, one was concealed in a lorry, and a seventh attempted to enter the UK clandestinely via a ferry port. An eighth suspect, aged 19, has been arrested in Ireland, and legal proceedings are underway to secure his return to the UK.

Detective Superintendent Stacey Murray emphasized the victims' safety and well-being as the priority for the investigation, assuring a meticulous approach and a dedicated team examining all lines of inquiry. She also noted the importance of supporting victims, acknowledging that they may choose when and if to come forward.