Britian Using Genetic Tests on Asylum Seekers

Filed in archive Europe on November 12, 2009

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The United Kingdom is using genetic tests to verify the nationality of asylum seekers, and the practice has draw some criticism.

Britain is using genetic tests on some African asylum seekers in an effort to catch those who are lying about their nationality, drawing criticism from scientists and provoking outrage from rights groups.

The British government says that the genetic tests have shown a fraud rate of 87% in cases where asylum seekers claim to be related to each other. In the US, language skills are used to help determine nationality.