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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/18/samim-bigzad-asylum-seeker-deported-illegally-to-afghanistan-is-returned-to-uk
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| Asylum seeker deported illegally to Afghanistan is returned to UK | Asylum seeker deported illegally to Afghanistan is returned to UK |
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| An asylum seeker has been flown back to the UK from Afghanistan after the Home Office was ordered by the courts to bring him back because he had been deported illegally. | An asylum seeker has been flown back to the UK from Afghanistan after the Home Office was ordered by the courts to bring him back because he had been deported illegally. |
| Samim Bigzad, 23, was returned to the UK on Sunday night after a legal battle during which judges said four times it was wrong to remove him from the country. | |
| Bigzad’s solicitor said the Home Office first ignored an order made by a high court judge not to send him to Kabul. Once there, officials then tried to have set aside orders made by two more high court judges to bring him back. | Bigzad’s solicitor said the Home Office first ignored an order made by a high court judge not to send him to Kabul. Once there, officials then tried to have set aside orders made by two more high court judges to bring him back. |
| Jamie Bell, of the law firm Duncan Lewis, said the department’s actions were “unprecedented in scope and gravity”. | |
| “The aim of the secretary of state was to have Samim remain in Kabul whilst his legal matter remains ongoing,” Bell said. “They said it was an urgent point of principle. After a four-hour hearing in which all issues were thoroughly examined, Lord Justice Floyd once more reaffirmed that Samim should be returned to the United Kingdom.” | |
| Bell met Bigzad at Heathrow airport on Sunday night. He said: “This has been a very long and difficult week. For everyone involved it’s been both emotionally and physically draining. But seeing Samim arrive back last night made it all worthwhile. | |
| “He couldn’t quite believe he was back and allowed to walk away free. He kept putting his head on the ground and saying how happy he was to be back. | “He couldn’t quite believe he was back and allowed to walk away free. He kept putting his head on the ground and saying how happy he was to be back. |
| The Home Office had forcibly removed Bigzad from Ramsgate to Afghanistan on Tuesday last week. | The Home Office had forcibly removed Bigzad from Ramsgate to Afghanistan on Tuesday last week. |
| Bigzad said he had had to flee Afghanistan because his life was in danger, and he had been put at risk again when he was sent back to the country. Speaking to the Guardian when he was in Kabul, he said men with guns had arrived at the hotel looking for him and hotel staff had urged him not to leave his room for fear that his life was in danger. | Bigzad said he had had to flee Afghanistan because his life was in danger, and he had been put at risk again when he was sent back to the country. Speaking to the Guardian when he was in Kabul, he said men with guns had arrived at the hotel looking for him and hotel staff had urged him not to leave his room for fear that his life was in danger. |
| He said: “I fled Afghanistan because the Taliban threatened to behead me because I worked for a construction company with Afghan government and American contracts. I am terrified to be back here in case the Taliban find me. | He said: “I fled Afghanistan because the Taliban threatened to behead me because I worked for a construction company with Afghan government and American contracts. I am terrified to be back here in case the Taliban find me. |
| “Since I heard that the Home Office has been ordered to bring me back I have been counting the hours until I could get on the plane.” | “Since I heard that the Home Office has been ordered to bring me back I have been counting the hours until I could get on the plane.” |
| Bigzad had been living in Ramsgate, Kent, with Kavel Rafferty, who hosted him through the charity Refugees At Home. Rafferty said of Bigzad’s return: “I’m overjoyed that he’s back with me. I haven’t slept at all since he was removed, I’ve been so worried for his safety.” | Bigzad had been living in Ramsgate, Kent, with Kavel Rafferty, who hosted him through the charity Refugees At Home. Rafferty said of Bigzad’s return: “I’m overjoyed that he’s back with me. I haven’t slept at all since he was removed, I’ve been so worried for his safety.” |
| Bigzad’s father, for whom Bigzad is the main carer, has lived in Margate for 10 years and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. | Bigzad’s father, for whom Bigzad is the main carer, has lived in Margate for 10 years and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. |
| A Home Office spokesman said on Friday: “Mr Bigzad’s asylum application was carefully considered on its individual merits against background country information and was dismissed in March 2016. Having exhausted his appeal rights, he was removed to Afghanistan on Tuesday 12 September.” | A Home Office spokesman said on Friday: “Mr Bigzad’s asylum application was carefully considered on its individual merits against background country information and was dismissed in March 2016. Having exhausted his appeal rights, he was removed to Afghanistan on Tuesday 12 September.” |