An interpreter who worked for the Army in Afghanistan has killed himself after losing his asylum claim to stay in Britain.
Nangyalai Dawoodzai, who worked for British forces in Helmand province, fled his homeland after threats from the Taliban.
Mr Dawoodzai, 29, paid people smugglers to reach the UK. His request for political asylum was rejected when it was found that he had been fingerprinted in Italy on arrival in Europe, indicating that he should have sought asylum there.
Friends told the Daily Mail he was “deeply depressed” and had spoken of suicide in the days leading to his death.
Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, who has championed the cause of Afghan war interpreters, described his treatment as scandalous.
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"This is the most tragic example of a shameful government policy," he said.
According to the Daily Mail at least three other interpreters who served with British forces are facing deportation because they were fingerprinted in mainland Europe before arriving in the UK.
Lord Ashdown said: "These people will have been at the front line day in, day out, with no break for years. Given the way they have been treated, who in the future will ever offer to be an interpreter to help British soldiers do their job when we treat those who have served our troops so scandalously?"
Dr Julian Lewis, chairman of the Commons defence select committee, said he hoped the case would encourage a "more generous and enlightened attitude" by Home Office officials.
"Many people will share my bafflement and concern,” he said, “that we seem unable to get rid of people who mean us harm and unwilling to take people who have served us loyally."
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A former interpreter named only as Rafi, who helps to co-ordinate support for former colleagues, told the newspaper Mr Dawoodzai seemed "extremely depressed" when they spoke a month ago.
Former Afghan interpreters who find themselves in a similar position feel betrayed when they are not granted asylum in the country they helped in war, he said.
Mr Dawoodzai was living in a hostel in Birmingham when he learned that his application had been rejected after the Italian records were found.
He was arrested and held in a detention centre for 18 days before being allowed to return to the hostel while his paperwork was processed.
The interpreter told the newspaper: "He was depressed and very down. He said his life was at risk and no one cared ... he believed that Britain would help him because he had helped them. Now he has killed himself - it is so desperate."
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West Midlands police told the Daily Mail that a man's body was found at an address in West Bromwich on Wednesday night. The death is not being treated as suspicious.