Mahi still waiting for a date for hearing
A BARNSTAPLE asylum seeker is awaiting a judicial review to see if he will be allowed to stay in the country.
Ahmed "Mahi" Fatimah, who received a Chief Constable's Good Citizenship Award for his work in the community, faces deportation to Bangladesh.
Mahi, who has lived in Barnstaple for more than five years, fled his native country nine years ago where he was known as a "stateless citizen" with no legitimate status or paperwork.
He has had an ongoing application for asylum since he arrived in the UK but this was rejected outright in January.
His case has been adjourned after two previous hearings in May and June but no date for a full trial has yet been set.
Chris Herdman of the UK Border Agency said: "The case is in the hands of the legal system and it's hoped that a hearing date will be set in the near future."
2 Comments
by Jack Russell, North Devon
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 6:23PM
“I really think that Mr.Ahmed "Mahi" Fatima should come clean with the people of North Devon and take the opportunity to answer, through the pages of the NDJ, the following questions:
1.Exactly why he fled his native country?
2. How did he manage to 'lose' all of his paperwork?
3. How did he manage to exit Bangladesh and arrive in Britain without any paperwork?
4. What means of transport did he use to get here?
5. Why did he not apply for asylum in the first safe country near his homeland?
6. Why is the organisation Sunrise , of which he is the founder member, promoting his attempt to stay in this country?
I think these are all reasonable questions to which, I'm sure, many people would like to hear some honest answers.
While we are at it, maybe the Chief Constable would like to explain how and why a person, who is in this country illegally, can be given a 'Good Citizens' award; when he patently is not a citizen and has also broken our laws to be here.
This whole story is a sad reflection of the sorry state this country has become, under successive governments, since 1948.”
by Sam, N.Devon
Thursday, July 22 2010, 6:04PM
“NDJ please get this right.He is NOT an assylum seeker.He IS an illegal Immigrant and he is in this country illegally.ie.He is a criminal and should be deported.Once the PC brigade get involved it creates havoc.remember if this man is given the right to stay he can then legaly bring "Dependants" to this country.These Do Gooders should visit towns and cities across the country where there are No Go areas and Mosques springing up everywhere.”