TWO teenage asylum seekers who grew up in Scotland have won their battle to escape deportation back to Pakistan.
Brothers Somer Umeed Bakhsh, 16, and 14-year-old Areeb were the focus of a high-profile Church of Scotland campaign supported by almost 100,000 people urging the UK Government to let them stay in the country.
The pair have spent most of their lives in fear that they could be forced out of their home in Glasgow, and returned to a place where they could be at risk.
Their family fled to Scotland in 2012 from Faisalabad after father Maqsood was subjected to death threats from Islamic extremists due to his Christian faith.
READ MORE: Teen Glasgow Christians terrified to return to Pakistan
But they were repeatedly denied asylum, while Mr Umeed Bakhsh and wife Parveen were prevented from earning a living - despite the fact that he is a trained data analyst and she is a nurse and midwife.
Now the family has been been granted “limited leave to remain” in the UK, but only until February, 2022.
The boys' plight became the subject of a high-profile camaign
However, campaigners are hopeful the Home Office decision signals the beginning of the end of the family's seven-and-a-half year struggle, and the start of a new life.
More than 94,000 people signed two online petitions urging the UK Government not to deport the brothers to their birth country.
The process to secure permanent leave to remain will likely cost the family tens of thousands of pounds.
Somer, who is now in sixth year at Springburn Academy and studying three Advanced Highers, said: “We have gone through a tough time and I am really happy that we now have the freedom to stay in the country we love.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders because the threat of deportation was always in the back of my mind.
“Scotland is my home, I have grown up here, all my friends are here and I feel like a Scottish boy."
He added: “I am very thankful to everyone who has supported my family and the people who signed the petitions - we could not have got to this point without you.
“But I am disappointed that we will have to apply to the Home Office for an extension in just two and a half years.”
Somer, who got four As and a B in his Highers and aspires to be an astrophysicist, said he was hopeful that he will be accepted to the University of Glasgow next year.
Rev Kinda Pollok of the Church of Scotland supported the boys' fight.
Areeb, who is in fourth year at the same school and studying seven National 5s exams, said he was “overwhelmed” by the news.
“It has been very stressful but Glasgow is such a lovely place, everyone is so welcoming and my friends at school have always been there for me,” he added.
“They will be really happy to hear the news and I am looking forward to a degree of normality and hopefully life will be easier because we have been opened up to many more opportunities.”
READ MORE: Scottish teenage asylum seeker excels in Highers despite deportation fears
Mr and Mrs Umeed Bakhsh will soon be granted work permits and have the opportunity to drive and take their sons on holidays aboard.
The family, who are now seeking new accommodation, are active members of Possilpark Parish Church in Glasgow.
Their minister, Rev Linda Pollock, has led the campaign to stop them being deported to Pakistan where blasphemy carries the death penalty.
Christian friends of Mr Umeed Bakhsh were murdered in 2010 which was the catalyst for his decision to flee with his family to the UK because Islamic extremists threatened his life.
The 51-year-old said that once you are marked there is nowhere safe in Pakistan to live.
Ms Pollock said: “I am relieved and feel deep joy that this decision has been made because these youngsters have been living in a psychological prison and in bondage for too long.
“They are brave, inspirational, compassionate, intelligent, well rounded boys who have experienced sorrow and heartache.
“But through all of this they have maintained their dignity and integrity which has not been easy.
“They have not allowed the barriers of the prison that they have been forced to live in to make them bitter which is a credit to them and their parents.”
READ MORE: Friends join teenagers to halt threat of deportation
The family’s case was raised with former Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons by Paul Sweeney, MP for Glasgow North East, and in the Scottish Parliament by Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn.
Paul Sweeny MP took the case to Westminster
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the brothers as a “credit” to Scotland and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged the Home Office to grant the family leave to remain.
Scotland’s Communities and Local Government Secretary, Aileen Campbell, also made representations on their behalf.
Mr Sweeney said that the toll the struggle has taken on the family demonstrates the human cost of the UK Government’s hostile environment policy and the need for fundamental changes in Home Office policy.
Mr Sweeney said: “We have taken this case to the very top, but it is disgraceful that it should take a question to the Prime Minister, tireless work from my constituency staff and the solidarity of thousands of Glaswegians who signed the petition to get a result.
“However, whilst the family now have the freedom to work and contribute their talents to our community, they remain in a temporary state of limbo over the next decade before they can apply for permanent settlement.
“Prior to this they will be required to apply every 30 months for further leave to remain with each occasion costing approximately £8,000. That is a disgraceful financial burden and I and I will be campaigning in parliament to have these exploitative costs abolished.”
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