Hastings family's bid to save vulnerable Iranian man from deportation

A petition has been launched in a bid to help a vulnerable young Iranian man, who arrived in the UK as a child nine years ago following the death of his parents, stay in the country.
Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112511001Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112511001
Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112511001

Javad Ebrahimi has learning difficulties, mental health problems, post traumatic stress disorder, poor memory and struggles to communicate.

His parents were killed in the Bam earthquake in 2003 and Javad was put in an orphanage in Tehran where he was forced to learn how to use guns and subjected to extreme religious teaching.

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He fled and months later a terrified Javad was found by police clinging to the underside of a lorry in Reading. He was moved to Hastings three years ago.

Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001
Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001

Tutor Terry Alexander met Javad while he was studying.

His mental health issues had never been addressed and Terry raised her concerns about the troubled young man to her superiors.

They found Javad somewhere to stay, but he was forced to constantly move around.

Terry said: “At that point I said we can limp on together to get him to move from one place to another every few weeks but what he needs is a bit of love and stability.”

Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001
Javad Ebrahimi SUS-160505-112339001
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Terry invited Javad to move in with her and her husband in Pinders Road.

And 18 months later, a stable family life has helped shy Javad, now 23, grow in confidence.

Terry said: “He looks more like a student who has things on his mind rather than a street urchin who is terrified of everything and everyone.”

But Javad’s last request for asylum was turned down earlier this year and now the family is facing an anxious wait, not knowing when that knock on the door will come.

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Terry said: “Every time we see a police car outside there’s that little bit of fear – have they come for him, are they going to take him today?”

There are fears if Javad returns to Iran, he will be forced into national service with the Iranian army.

If he has not served, he will not be allowed to work.

Knowing he is facing deportation has had a profound affect on Javad.

Terry said: “He’s absolutely devastated.

“He went quite into himself for a while and became withdrawn again.

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“He does not like to show his feelings at all but he is very unhappy. Very scared.”

Friends and Javad’s supporters have rallied round and an online petition has been launched, urging the Home Office to reconsider its decision to deport Javad.

Terry said: “We feel that someone has got to fight for him and make a bit of a fuss to stand the best chance of getting something done as he does not have the ability to do that himself.”

Since coming of age, Javad has received no financial aid. His legal status doesn’t allow him to work, meaning he is totally reliant on the kindness of others.

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Article 8 of the Human Rights Act states everyone has a right to a family life, adding ‘there is no pre-determined model of a family’.

Javad’s supporters are asking the The Home Office to reconsider their decision to deport Javad on the basis that he now has the chance to be part of family life.

To sign the petition visit: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-the-home-office-to-reconsider-javad-s-deportation-decision-now