Two men have been arrested after an Afghan anti-Taliban activist was assaulted inside a Home Office asylum hotel in Aldershot, Hampshire.
Natiq Malikzada, 29, a well-known campaigner against Islamic extremism, claims he was attacked in his hotel room by two men on the night of 13 February.
Malikzada arrived in the UK on a study visa in September 2023 after securing a prestigious Foreign Office scholarship.
Following the completion of his course in October 2024, he applied for asylum and was placed in the Potters International Hotel, which serves as temporary accommodation for asylum seekers.
Malikzada said he became a target after confronting other Afghan asylum seekers in the hotel who openly supported the Taliban. He also campaigned for the boycott of the Afghan cricket team due to the Taliban’s oppressive policies against women.
“I escaped these people and now I’m housed with them,” Malikzada told hotel staff after raising concerns about his safety.
On the evening of 13 February, after returning to his room from speaking with a friend, Malikzada was allegedly ambushed by two men. Police were called to the scene at 10:55 pm.
“It was reported that a man in his 20s had been assaulted and had suffered lacerations to his hand, chest and neck. He was taken to hospital to receive treatment for non-life threatening injuries.”
Two men, aged 25 and 29, were arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. They have been released on bail with conditions and relocated to areas outside Hampshire while investigations continue.
Chief Inspector Gillian Cox, District Commander for Hart and Rushmoor, said, “However, I would like to reassure you that at this time, it is being treated as an isolated incident, with no links to any previous incidents in the town centre or at the hotel and there is no perceived threat to the wider community.
Malikzada, who spent a night in hospital and later underwent surgery on his hand, expressed deep concern for his safety, stating he fled Afghanistan to escape Taliban supporters, only to find himself living among them in the UK.
His case has raised questions about the Home Office’s handling of vulnerable asylum seekers, particularly those fleeing political persecution.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have urged the public not to speculate while inquiries continue.
