CSM student wins deportation appeal

by Colin Robertson

Cental Saint Martins Fine Art student Behnam Askari, his mother Masoumeh and his brother, Behrad have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The 22-year-old artist and his family have been under serious threat of deportation to prison and torture in Iran since his claim for asylum was rejected by the Home Office back in 2005, after malpractice from an unqualified legal representative.

Arts London News reported in January how Askari, his mother and younger brother faced possible torture, imprisonment and likely death under Iranian law, merely because they were linked with two teenage students who occupied their vacant home in Iran for two months.

The two teenagers were found with anti-political regime printing materials.

New claim

The family's solicitor, Kash Behbahani, confirmed that the Home Office had made their decison at the end of February.

A new claim for asylum, with a new solicitor, based on substantial new evidence, was submitted in April 2008.

After 17 months, Behnam was informed in September 2009 that the fresh claim was soon to be considered.

Askari said: "I am so glad that at last we know we can stay in England and that we are safe. It is always my dream that one day all the people in the world will be free.

"That is why I respect all the people who are standing up for freedom and Human Rights."

'Save Behnam' campaign organiser, Pauline Levis, has spent over four years dedicating herself soley to the campaign, organising a petition of 11,263 signatures.

She told ALN: "Naturally we were overjoyed when the news finally came. It is wonderful to know that, after so long, the dreadful threat hanging over Behnam and his mother has been lifted and that they no longer face the possibility of being sent to a terrible fate in Iran."