Mohammad Arrian Deportation - Star article

Article here:

 http://www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=1084&ArticleID=1303077

Contains this text... (which is a just a bit over the top in it's "Horay for Caborn" tone... ):

Refugee given asylum reprieve as MP steps in

Home Office to rule on deportation fight

Emma Dunlop

THE case of a man who fears he may be killed if he is sent back to his native Afghanistan is to be taken up with the Home Office, the Yorkshire Post has learned.

Mohammad Arrian, 34, was to be deported later this month, despite huge protests.

Earlier this week Mr Arrian, currently in a holding unit at Dover, was ordered to leave on January 17 after his application for UK asylum was turned down.

This is despite the fact the rest of his family, including his mother, sister and three brothers, have been granted permission to stay in this country and have already set up home in Sheffield.

Hundreds of people signed a petition pleading with the immigration service to let Mr Arrian stay – but this appeared to fall on deaf ears.

That is until Mr Arrian's local MP Richard Caborn stepped in.

He has now taken up Mr Arrian's case and has requested a meeting with Immigration Minister Tony McNulty.

Jubilant supporters of Mr Arrian last night celebrated the news.

Spokesman Ralph Hancock, who worked with Mr Arrian at Sheffield's Conversation Club, said: "Our first objective has been achieved.

"The family and supporters have met with Richard Caborn, Mohammad's MP, who believes there are grounds to discuss the case and has requested a meeting with Immigration Minister, Tony McNulty. Mohammad will not be deported before that meeting.

"The campaign will carry on to support Mohammad and Mr Caborn in his efforts on Mohammad's behalf."

Mr Arrian fled his native Afghanistan 10 years ago after warlords in the country murdered his father because of his political beliefs.

His family, from Manor Oak Court, Manor Park, Sheffield, are adamant that if Mr Arrian returned to Afghanistan, his life would be in danger.

The warlords who executed their father are still in power, and as the eldest son Mr Arrian's life is more likely to be in danger than others.

Mr Arrian has not lived in Afghanistan for more than 13 years, having initially fled to Iran before joining his family in Britain two years ago.

In 2001 most of the members of his large, extended family came to Britain, eventually settling in Sheffield.

Now his mother, three brothers and sister all live in the city after they were all granted asylum in 2002. But as he came later, in 2003, he found himself in the middle of a political row about asylum seekers.

A judge initially gave him the right to live in Britain, but this was overturned by the Home Office.

A petition of more than 400 signatures was sent to the Home Office appealing for a rethink.

Despite the recent reprieve, Mr Hancock said planned demonstrations against the deportation are to still be held outside Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday and on Wednesday next week.

A Home Office spokesman last night said they could not comment on individual cases but said they were committed "to the protection of genuine refugees who seek asylum in the UK".

He added: "The Home Office assesses cases on their individual merits, providing protection to those who need it and seeking to remove those who do not. This is essential if the system is to be both robust and fair.

"This means that individuals who meet the definition of a refugee in the 1951 Geneva Convention are granted asylum.

"If they do not qualify for asylum, but there are other circumstances that make them particularly vulnerable and engage our obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, they are granted humanitarian protection or discretionary leave.

"If their application is refused, they have a right of appeal to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. If the appeal is unsuccessful, that means that it has been judged safe for that particular individual to return to their country of origin."

Mr Caborn was not available for comment last night.

 emma.dunlop@ypn.co.uk

05 January 2006