British family pleads for release of Jasmeet Wadhwa’s body held by French authorities five months after Channel death
A British family is calling on French officials to release the body of Jasmeet Wadhwa, 32, who died attempting to cross the English Channel on April 1. Wadhwa and his mother, Harbans Kaur Wadhwa, were fleeing Taliban persecution in Afghanistan when the tragedy occurred on a dinghy en route to the UK.
The body has been held by French authorities for five months, prompting relatives to stage a rare protest outside the Dunkirk courthouse. The family traveled from London to France to demand the return of Jasmeet’s remains so they can grieve and hold a proper funeral.
Journey and Loss in the Channel
Jasmeet and his mother undertook a perilous two-month journey beginning in January, controlled by people smugglers before arriving in northern France mid-March. During the Channel crossing attempt, Jasmeet and another man from Sudan, Nagmeldin Adam, 33, lost their lives. Eight other passengers, including Harbans Kaur Wadhwa, were rescued. Adam had endured detention in Libya and multiple efforts to reach Europe before arriving in France in December 2025.
This year, at least 16 people have died trying to cross the Channel from France to the UK, underscoring ongoing dangers faced by migrants making the journey.
Family Protest and Official Responses
Relatives of both men protested on Monday against the French government’s refusal to release the bodies. Jasmeet’s cousin, Ivnit Singh Wadhwa, described the family’s frustration, saying, “We shouldn’t have to fight to say goodbye.” The French interior ministry and police handling the bodies declined to explain the delay.
Following her son’s death, Harbans Kaur Wadhwa applied to the UK Home Office for legal entry under the “one in, one out” scheme, intended to return people who crossed illegally in exchange for admitting one who applied legally. However, the Home Office rejected her request citing insufficient identity documentation, as Afghans typically carry a Tazkira identity card.
Official Statement on Channel Crossings
A Home Office spokesperson expressed sorrow over the death in French waters and highlighted ongoing risks exploited by criminal gangs profiting from migrants. The spokesperson emphasized continued cooperation with French authorities to prevent such dangerous crossings.
In a social media appeal, Jasmeet Wadhwa’s family described their plea as beyond politics, focusing on a mother’s right to see her son one last time and a family’s need to mourn.
