LONDON: An Afghan woman living in Glasgow fears being deported to her country after her new visa was rejected by the Home Office.
Maryam Amiri has urged the UK government to reconsider its decision.
Amiri told Sky News that her family has already received threats due to her views on the Taliban and its decision on women’s rights. She also stated that her husband, who is also Afghan, works for British forces and that forcing either of them to return would be dangerous.
The Home Office said that Amiri is not eligible for leave to remain under the five-year or 10-year partner route, despite having been granted two shorter visa periods since 2016, PA News Agency reported.
The decision notice also said that Amiri does not satisfy the minimum income requirement and that the Home Secretary has not seen any evidence of “insurmountable obstacles” to the couple continuing their lives together in Afghanistan.
“I have always been vocal against the Taliban and their brutal regime,” Amiri told the PA News Agency.
Amiri also disagreed with the Home Office’s decision to return her to a country “where women are not secure,” particularly women who have “always been vocal against the Taliban.”
“I feel threatened and am scared of losing my life if I go back,” she said.
“I have put my life in trouble by opposing the Taliban and their activities,” Amiri added.
Alison Thewliss, MP for Glasgow Central, slammed the Home Office decision, saying Amiri’s return to life in Afghanistan was “dangerous” and failed to account for the country’s changes since 2016.
“The idea that you can just send people back and everything will be fine, that’s just not sensible, not practical,” Thewliss told Sky News.
“It’s dangerous and the Home Office should really know better before putting something like this out,” Thewliss added.
She continued: “I think her case highlights just the lack of care, the lack of attention, the lack of professionalism in the Home Office.”
Amiri’s case was raised in the House of Commons with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on an individual case.
Concerning Amira’s visa, a Home Office spokesperson told Sky News: “All visa applications are decided on individual merits. We don’t routinely comment on individual cases.”
