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The Boaz Trust is campaigning that Discretionary Leave to Remain in the UK be granted to Amar Hassan Albadawi, a Sudanese asylum seeker who is facing deportation, so that he can exercise his right to family life and settle here in the UK.
Amar Hassan Albadawi is from the Beja tribe of East Sudan – one of the most marginalised and impoverished tribes in Sudan. After being unjustly detained and beaten by the Sudanese army, he joined the rebel Beja Congress freedom fighters in 2003. He was captured, but escaped from prison when it was attacked by the rebel forces. Amar sought asylum in the UK, arriving on 9th February 2005.
After his asylum claim was refused, and appeal rights exhausted, he has lived as a destitute asylum seeker, without financial support, housing benefits or employment rights. Despite bleak prospects for his future, he actively pursued an education in the UK, studying electrical engineering for two years, first at college, then on his own when his right to study was withdrawn. He has also accessed English courses to improve his language skills. He has a lot to offer this country with his skills, interests and experience.
In February 2005, Amar met a Colombian lady called Carolina and fell in love. In 2009 they sought to get married, although they could not marry in a registry office, because the Home Office required a Certificate of Approval for asylum seekers, so undertook an Islamic marriage in the Didsbury mosque, Manchester, on 19th September 2009. After this, Amar moved from his rent-free room with the Boaz Trust and moved in with Carolina. As their friends and acquaintances testify, their marriage is genuine and based on true love. Nevertheless, the Home Office has refused all further submissions, and insist that Amar returns to Sudan. We are deeply concerned that if Amar is returned his life will be in danger.
On May 9th 2011 the Certificate of Approval was abolished. An interview for Amar and Carolina was arranged for June 2nd, to have a UK-recognised marriage. However, before this could happen, Amar was detained when he went to report, as required, at Dallas Court Reporting Centre in Salford on May 18th. He was taken to Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow, where he has been ever since. The Sudanese Embassy has agreed to issue travel documents, and when that happens Amar will be deported. Amar and Carolina have established a family life here in the UK, even without a legally recognised marriage certificate. If he is returned to Sudan, his life will still be in danger, and the prospects for their marriage and future will be bleak.
We are calling on the Home Secretary, the Rt Hon. Theresa May MP, to use her powers of discretion to grant Amar Hassan Albadawi leave to remain in this country. By signing this petition you are standing with all those who know and love Amar and Carolina, and are standing up for justice and freedom!
Let Amar and Carolina stay together
Dear Ms. May,
I am writing to request that ‘Discretionary Leave to Remain in the UK’ be granted to Amar Hassan Albadawi, so that he can exercise his right to family life, which has been established in the UK since his marriage on September 19th 2009. I hope you find the following information useful in making a compassionate and well-grounded decision on his case.
Amar Hassan Albadawi is from the Beja tribe of East Sudan – one of the most marginalised and impoverished tribes in Sudan. After being unjustly detained and beaten by the Sudanese army, he joined the rebel Beja Congress freedom fighters in 2003. He was captured, but escaped from prison when it was attacked by the rebel forces. Amar sought asylum in the UK, arriving on 9th February 2005.
Within 8 days his claim was refused. His appeal was refused on May 20th 2005, and since then he has been living as a destitute asylum seeker, without financial support, housing benefits or employment rights. Despite these obstacles he has pursued an education, studying electrical engineering for two years, first at college, then on his own when his right to study was withdrawn. He was planning to go to university but without access to public funds this was impossible. However, he accessed several language courses to improve his English.
In February 2005, Amar met a Colombian lady called Carolina and fell in love. Carolina returned to Colombia when her visa expired, but when she obtained a student visa and returned to the UK in August 2009, their relationship was stronger than ever. As they could not marry in a registry office, because the Home Office required a Certificate of Approval for asylum seekers, they undertook an Islamic marriage in the Didsbury mosque, Manchester, on 19th September 2009. After this, Amar moved from his rent-free room with the Boaz Trust (a charity supporting destitute asylum seekers in Manchester) and moved in with Carolina. As their friends and acquaintances testify, their marriage is genuine and based on true love. Nevertheless, the Home Office has refused all further submissions, and insist that Amar returns to Sudan.
On May 9th 2011 the Certificate of Approval was abolished, and that very day Amar went to the registry office to book a wedding, as Islamic marriages are not recognised under UK law. An interview for Amar and Carolina was arranged for June 2nd. However, before this could happen, Amar was detained when he went to report, as required, at Dallas Court Reporting Centre in Salford on May 18th. He was taken to Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow, where he has been ever since. The Sudanese Embassy has agreed to issue travel documents, and when that happens Amar will be deported. Amar and Carolina have established a family life here in the UK, even without a legally recognised marriage certificate. If he is returned to Sudan, his life will still be in danger, and the prospects for their marriage and future will be bleak.
Please use your powers of discretion to grant Amar Hassan Albadawi leave to remain in this country. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]