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Five Years & Counting: Security & a Real Life for Farid NOW!

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Background
Updates
Farid is 24. He is the eldest son of the Vahidi family (originally from Iran). His mother, father and brother were granted asylum in April 2012 after a long-fought campaign against the UKBA (details on their campaign page), but Farid’s individual case is still outstanding. After more than 63 months in the UK he is still in limbo, unable to move on in his life; forbidden from working, unable to apply to study, and never knowing what is going to happen either in the immediate or longer-term future.

Farid was the driving force supporting his family during their campaign for safety, but because he was 18 when he arrived in the
Farid (right) with his brother Farhad before taking part in the Manchester 10K Great Run in 2012.
UK he was not actually himself part of their asylum claim. The UKBA, after a wait of two and a half years, refused his initial claim in May 2010. Farid’s fresh claim for asylum revolves around the same reasons that his family were granted refugee status in the UK; reasons which, in various ways, put him under serious threat from the current regime in Iran. As with Farid’s family, returning to Iran is simply not a viable option.

The fact that the Vahidi family would be in grave danger if returned to Iran was established by a Tribunal judge, whose decision was then appealed by the UKBA and taken to an Upper Tribunal. There the first judge’s decision was confirmed again. Farid’s claim now, therefore, is essentially on the same basis that has twice been re-confirmed by Tribunal and Upper Tribunal asylum judges.

The solicitor now acting on Farid’s behalf is certain that the current evidence is more than enough to entitle Farid to refugee status in the UK, but the UKBA continues to keep Farid waiting, saying they have not yet made a decision about him. In light of the history of this case as above, though, this should be a very straightforward decision, based on grounds that the UKBA have twice tried before to challenge – and lost.

Farid is campaigning for safety in the UK, to remain with his family, and, finally, to end this period of waiting, tension and inaction. He says: “Like my family, I fled Iran and claimed asylum to save my life, and I can’t go back there. But after more than five years stuck in limbo, I am desperate to start a real life again.”

Please Sign & Share the Petition to  Keep the Vahidi Family Together in Manchester!

Gallery
01/05/2014 - RIGHT TO WORK FOR FARID!
Farid has been granted the right to work in the UK! This is a major breakthrough for Farid's campaign. Well done!
26/05/2013 - Farid & Matt in the Manchester 10K run!
Farid Vahidi ran the Manchester 10K for RAPAR. Fellow RAPAR volunteer and caseworker, Matt Bown, joined him

Picture
Last spring, Farid and his brother ran the Manchester 10K Great Run to raise awareness for their campaign. This year, he will be joined by fellow RAPAR member Matt Bown as an act of solidarity in support of Farid’s continued campaign to stay in the UK.

Help keep Farid in the UK. Show your support and sponsor Farid and Matt in the Manchester 10K.

Click Here for donations.

20/02/13 - Campaign launched
Farid is launching his campaign now, for the reasons set out to the left. One of the first actions will be to publicise the campaign at the Manchester Coalition Against Cuts march on Sat 23rd Feb and place Farid's campaign in solidarity and linkage with this broader context.