Campaign supported by: -
Manchester City Council
John Leech MP (LD, Withington)
Cllr Richard Leese (Lab Crumpsall)
Cllr Tony Bethell (LD Chorlton Park)
Cllr Norman Lewis (LD Chorlton Park)
Cllr Sheila Newman (Lab Chorlton Central)
Cllr Val Stevens (Lab Chorlton Central)
UNISON Manchester Branch
UNISON North West Region
Body Positive North West
George House Trust
T&G Manchester Branch
Chorlton Workshop
Manchester Trades Union Council
Chorlton Central Church
Perparim Demaj is a former Manchester City Council worker who has lived in
the UK for 8 years. He was described by Manchester council leader Richard
Leese (photo below) as 'the sort of citizen we would want all our citizens
to be'. His "family
amnesty" application has been refused and faces imminent removal to
Kosovo with his wife and children.
Perparim fled Kosovo in fear of genocide in July 1998, two days
before Serbian forces invaded. He had been displaced from his wife
in Kosovo and didn't know whether she was dead or alive. He was
unaware that in fact his wife had arrived in the UK in 2002 and
was living in the Greater Manchester area. His wife was unaware
Perparim was alive and living in Manchester. The Home Office was
fully aware, yet informed neither of them.
By chance, Perparim came across his wife in 2005 and the family
was reunited. His wife gave birth to their daughter in August 2006.
Perparim's 8 year stay in Manchester has been a remarkable one.
He arrived with next to no grasp of English. But he learnt fast,
and within 18 months was undertaking voluntary social work. He
then started paid work as a translator, mental health nursing assistant
and community support worker for people with HIV/Aids. He studied
social care to NVQ level 2 and secured an NVQ level 3 in nursing.
Perparim worked for Manchester City Council's Social Services department
for four and a half years. The council says it is struggling to
attract social workers like Mr Demaj - a fact illustrated when
it was forced to recruit 12 staff from Canada to plug gaps in its
child protection team.
But in July 2004, his solicitor informed him that the Home Office
had decided to withdraw his right to work. Manchester City Council
left his post open and twice requested a work permit for Perparim,
which was refused both times by the Home Office. Despite having
paid tax and national insurance for five and a half years, Perparim
was left destitute.
"It's ridiculous that someone with a
job waiting for him, and who is such an active part of the community
should be deported."
Wendy Allison, UNISON Assistant Branch Secretary
"My wife and I applied the "Family Amnesty" but
were refused because we were not living as a family unit in 2003.
The only reason we were not together is because nobody told me
my wife had come to the UK and nobody told her that I was already
here. If it wasn't for the coincidence that we were both in a
similar area we may never have seen each other again. The Home
Office say they acknowledge the fact that we didn't know each
other was here, yet we are penalised because of it. It is like
my family is being punished twice."
Perparim Demaj
The Home Office refusal letter said "There have been no sufficiently
compelling or compassionate circumstances raised which would warrant
granting you all leave to remain ... Furthermore, you would be
returned to Kosovo together as a family unit enabling you to continue
your family life abroad"
"From the city council's perspective
we are extremely disappointed at the recent Home Office decision,
particularly as the City Council has expressed its full support
over the years for Perparim to stay here as a valued employee
and member of society"
Val Stevens, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council
"It seemed he wasn't just doing the
job to earn money. He was a social compatriot. The nature of
my illness has left me socially isolated, but when his work was
complete we would make time to sit down and talk. I also commend
him for his professionalism and thoroughness"
One of the patients Perparim helped.
Perparim
was required to sign at Dallas Court Enforcement Unit on Tuesday
24th October. His supporters staged a demonstration outside Dallas
Court against plans to send Perparim, his wife and their young
children back to Kosovo. He was cheered by the crowd after being
allowed to walk free (photo left )
Media articles
Kosovan
named as city's model citizen faces deportation -
The Indpendent 24/02/05
Deportation
of dedicated community worker opposed - Institute of
Race Relations 24/02/05
Council
sack asylum seeker - then campaign to keep him here - South
Manchester Reporter 24/02/05
Dad's
hug of hope in battle to stay in Britain - South Manchester
Reporter 26/10/06
What you can do to help:
Perparim Demaj and Family Must Stay Campaign is organising
a letter writing and petition campaign to persuade the Minister
for Immigration, Liam Byrne, to allow Perparim and his family to
stay in the UK.
Please print off the model
letter which you can copy/amend
write your own version (please quote Perparim's Home Office ref.
no. D289051), and send to :
Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration
Home Office
3rd Floor
Peel Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Please send copies of your letter to the Perparim Demaj and Family
Must Stay Campaign.
Please print off the petition, complete with signatures
and send by post to Perparim Demaj and Family Must Stay Campaign.
The campaign will gather completed petition sheets and present
them to the Immigration Minister
Contact the Perparim Demaj and Family
Must Stay Campaign
Post : c/o 39, Roxton Road, Stockport, SK4 5AX.
Phone : 07814 805239
Email : perparimdemaj@yahoo.com
