Press release: RUNNING FOR RAPAR
Family on point of being removed from UK have won asylum case.
Brothers to raise money for RAPAR in the Great Manchester 10k Run.
Family on point of being removed from UK have won asylum case.
Brothers to raise money for RAPAR in the Great Manchester 10k Run.
An Iranian family - who went into hiding only hours before UK Border Agency officers arrived at their home in Gorton, Manchester, to forcibly remove them from the UK - have won their case for asylum.
An Asylum and Immigration tribunal judge ruled that it would be unsafe for Mohammed and Zahra Vahidi and their 19 year old son Farhad to be returned to Iran and they can now stay in the UK. The family's eldest son Farid's case is separate and still ongoing - his campaign for asylum continues.
Farid and Farhad are members of RAPAR whose volunteers have been working with them on their asylum cases for nearly two years. On May 20th, they will take part in the Greater Manchester 10k run to raise funds for RAPAR.
Farid, 22, who is a member of RAPAR's Leadership group, said: “RAPAR supported my family at a very critical time and now they are supporting me. We wanted to give something back so that RAPAR can carry on with work they are doing with other people seeking asylum.”
The Vahidi family first came to RAPAR in 2010 when they received removal instructions from the UK Border Agency after their asylum application was refused. In desperation, Mohammed, Zahra and Farhad went into hiding. They were eventually detained in Yarl's Wood detention centre, Bedfordshire, and were on the point of being removed from the UK before the Home Office finally agreed to re-consider the case. Their MP Gerald Kaufman intervened on their behalf several times with the Immigration Minister Damian Green.
The case was heard at the Immigration and Asylum tribunal in Manchester and the judge ruled it would be unsafe for them to return to Iran - where they would have faced persecution, imprisonment, torture and possibly death. The UK Border Agency appealed against the judgement but lost the appeal.
To sponsor the Vahidi brothers, go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/vahidibrothers
Please click here to listen to Farid's interview with BBC Radio Manchester.
An Asylum and Immigration tribunal judge ruled that it would be unsafe for Mohammed and Zahra Vahidi and their 19 year old son Farhad to be returned to Iran and they can now stay in the UK. The family's eldest son Farid's case is separate and still ongoing - his campaign for asylum continues.
Farid and Farhad are members of RAPAR whose volunteers have been working with them on their asylum cases for nearly two years. On May 20th, they will take part in the Greater Manchester 10k run to raise funds for RAPAR.
Farid, 22, who is a member of RAPAR's Leadership group, said: “RAPAR supported my family at a very critical time and now they are supporting me. We wanted to give something back so that RAPAR can carry on with work they are doing with other people seeking asylum.”
The Vahidi family first came to RAPAR in 2010 when they received removal instructions from the UK Border Agency after their asylum application was refused. In desperation, Mohammed, Zahra and Farhad went into hiding. They were eventually detained in Yarl's Wood detention centre, Bedfordshire, and were on the point of being removed from the UK before the Home Office finally agreed to re-consider the case. Their MP Gerald Kaufman intervened on their behalf several times with the Immigration Minister Damian Green.
The case was heard at the Immigration and Asylum tribunal in Manchester and the judge ruled it would be unsafe for them to return to Iran - where they would have faced persecution, imprisonment, torture and possibly death. The UK Border Agency appealed against the judgement but lost the appeal.
- The Vahidi family have been living in Rochdale since they were released from detention in 2011.
- Teacher and journalist Rakhi Sinha is also running to raise money for RAPAR - Rakhi will take part in the Manchester Marathon on April 29th. Click here to find out more.
To sponsor the Vahidi brothers, go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/vahidibrothers
Please click here to listen to Farid's interview with BBC Radio Manchester.