An Afghan asylum seeker studying at Oxford University is to be deported, despite a 2,000 strong petition for him to stay.
Azim Ansari came to Britain on the back of a lorry 3 years ago, escaping the opressive Taliban regime in war-torn Afghanistan. He couldn't speak English and had no money.
3 years on, he had gained AAB at A-Level, speaks fluently and was studying Engineering at Oxford University.
However, he was not granted indefinite leave to continue his studies, and was told he would be going back at the end of 2003. Major protests by Oxford University students, and a 2,000 petition presented to Dr Evan Harris, failed to overturn the result of the appeal yesterday. Azim will have to quit his prestigious Oxford degree and head back to Afghanistan, plagued with warlords and militants.
The decision will outrage the thousands who worked hard protesting for Azim. Whilst strong anecdotal evidence shows asylum seekers coming into Britain and not bothering to work, Azim worked exceptionally hard to master the language, and gain a place on one of Britain's toughest courses. The Home Office's decision to ruin the future of a credit to Britain is ludicrous.
Any ideas for a protest?
3 years on, he had gained AAB at A-Level, speaks fluently and was studying Engineering at Oxford University.
However, he was not granted indefinite leave to continue his studies, and was told he would be going back at the end of 2003. Major protests by Oxford University students, and a 2,000 petition presented to Dr Evan Harris, failed to overturn the result of the appeal yesterday. Azim will have to quit his prestigious Oxford degree and head back to Afghanistan, plagued with warlords and militants.
The decision will outrage the thousands who worked hard protesting for Azim. Whilst strong anecdotal evidence shows asylum seekers coming into Britain and not bothering to work, Azim worked exceptionally hard to master the language, and gain a place on one of Britain's toughest courses. The Home Office's decision to ruin the future of a credit to Britain is ludicrous.
Any ideas for a protest?
Comments
Hide the following 13 comments
Let's protest this deportation
21.01.2005 08:06
What is the timetable for Azim's deportation, so that we can protest?
richarddirecttv
Yes let's protest
21.01.2005 13:08
Student
Studen needs to tke lessopns
21.01.2005 15:41
It is official policy to bring migrant workers to the UK as the economy cannot survive without them. Many migrants are forced by circumstances to work in jobs with the worst pay and conditions in the UK - jobs, wages and conditions that the majority of peoplebornin the UK would rightly shun.
At the same time it is also policy to use asylum seeker as scapegoats for the problems caused by government policies on housin, jobs and crumbling public services. It is also government policy to allow capital to cross boarders without any restrictions. If these rules are OK for goods, capital and profit then they are good enough for human beings.
Student's attitude is as indefensible as the governments random and unjust decision to expell Azim.
I say protest as loudly as possible. Get as much media coverage as possible. Try and force the government to go public with their reasons.
Trade Unionist
Murcoch hater
21.01.2005 16:50
Let's tell the world. lets help anyone who wants to come here to have a free British education.
Student
Why was he refused?
21.01.2005 17:52
What was the reason given for him not to remain?
Scrivener
Evidence
23.01.2005 21:53
Mike
Mike
e-mail:
mike_rowley100@hotmail.com
What's the reason?
24.01.2005 08:19
I was interested to know why he has been refused leave to remain in the UK – he, or his representatives, will have been given a reason, with the opportunity to appeal. Just wondered how it got this far. Does anyone know?
Scrivener
get back to the point
24.01.2005 14:44
janet
Precisely the point
24.01.2005 17:59
Scrivener
Precisely the point!
24.01.2005 18:26
Scrivener
Safe!
24.01.2005 20:31
There is likely to be a massive march in support of Azim sometime in the next couple of months. Keep your eyes peeled.
Matt
Matt S
clarification please
25.01.2005 18:30
In the meantime, I agree, let's get on the streets!
.
More info on Azim
28.01.2005 16:11
Latest:
I can't find any data supporting the abovementioned "strong anecdotal evidence" about refugees' working habits though.
It would be interesting to see a cost comparison of pounds spent on bombing Afghans, treating wounded civilians and British squaddies, transporting and maintaining troops, etc., versus pounds spent educating the future Afghan civil service, political and business leaders, et al. We could then determine which type of spending gives the greatest cost-benefit to this country per pound spent.
Even crude short-term costs are worth discussing, as well as the longer-term costs of bombing people back to the stone age for no apparent reason.
Deport UKIP scroungers back to Saxony