Afghan teen Najibullah Hashimi given stay of execution from deportation
by Hayley Robinson
An Afghan teenager facing deportation has won an
eleventh-hour reprieve.
Najibullah Hashimi was due to be put on a flight later today
after losing several appeals to stay in the country.
He feared he would be killed if he returned to the homeland
he fled in 2006.
Now his adopted family say they have been told his flight has
been cancelled and his case is being reviewed.
The UK Border Agency would not confirm details, but
said Najibullah was still being detained.
The news comes after this website revealed on Friday how
the 18-year-old believed the man who killed his father
and brother would track him down.
The Sittingbourne Community College student (pictured
above) had argued he had made a life for himself here. But the
Home Office ordered his removal today.
However, they were hoping for a last-minute reprieve after more
than 2,300 supporters signed a petition against his
deportation.
The keen cricketer, his mother, sister and uncle fled the
northern Afghan city of Baghlan and moved to Pakistan after the
killings.
Three years later, news reached them the man responsible
had tracked them down.
As a result, they decided the teenager would flee to
England.
He arrived on February 27, 2009, aged 14, on the back of a lorry
in Dover.
After a short stay in Ashford he was moved to a foster family in
Sittingbourne before finally being taken in by carers Steve and
Michelle Griffiths in Faversham.
He barely spoke a word of English, but is now fluent in the
language.
The teenager, known as Najib, has been living independently
since he turned 18 but has been held at the Dover Immigration
Removal Centre since the week before last.
Speaking earlier today, Najib's foster father Steve Griffiths
said there was confusion surrounding his release: "We're sat
outside the detention centre and the reception that discharged the
deportees has now told Naji he won't be released until this
afternoon and I've spoken to a manager at the gates to find out
what's going on."
Jackie Noble, assistant head teacher and head of post 16
at Najib's school, said: "He is an extremely well
presented and polite young man, and very popular with staff and his
peers.
"Najib is an outstanding example of a refugee that has come into
our country and taken all the opportunities offered to him and then
given much more back to others and the local community."
A UKBA spokesman said: "The UK only returns individuals if both
the UKBA and the courts are satisfied they do not need our
protection and have no legal basis to remain in the country.
"We encourage these people to leave voluntarily and offer
assistance to those who choose to do so."
14/03/13
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