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Karims lose asylum bid

8:31am Thursday 22nd March 2007

comment Comments (31)   Have your say »


A FAMILY of asylum seekers face deportation after a final bid to stay in the country failed.

Nigel and Pearl Karim, of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, won the widespread support of the local community in their fight to remain in East Lancashire.

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Should the Karims be allowed to stay? Add your comments below.

But yesterday a letter arrived telling them a bid for a judicial review over their asylum rejection had been refused.

Now Nigel and Pearl have made a last ditch plea for the authorities to let them stay for the sake of their children, Crystal, 15, and Calvin, 13.

Nigel, 52, said both Crystal and Calvin were performing well at Fisher More High School, Colne, and their education would be "ruined" if they were deported.

He said: "They have been in school for five years and I am concerned for their future. All the teachers say they are pleased with them and Crystal is in the top five in the school for her age.

"If nothing else, I would appeal on compassionate grounds for us to be allowed to stay."

Pearl, 44, said Crystal wanted to study dentistry at Oxford University. She said: "After five years you cannot expect them to go back to that environment. It would ruin their education."

The family moved to Nelson from Pakistan five years ago claiming they would be killed if they returned because of their Christianity.

After the family's second bid for asylum was rejected, they applied for a judicial review in a bid to be allowed to stay.

In the letter from the High Court, the family were told their bid for a judicial review had been turned down because new evidence they submitted did not "consitute a new claim".

Last year, the family were arrested at their home and taken to an immigration centre in Bedfordshire to be deported.

However they were allowed back to Nelson while their appeal was heard.

Campaigners are continuing to fight for the family and there will be a public meeting today at 6.30pm at Nelson Town Hall.

Nigel said: "We do not know what will happen now but we will continue with the campaign until we have some positive news."

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Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph

Aussie Girl, Australia says...
12:20pm Wed 21 Mar 07

People must be made to abide by the rules, they are there for a reason. Entry into all countries should be monitored tightly

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Mike Brailsford, Blackpool says...
4:07pm Wed 21 Mar 07

Hopefully further comments won't be of such an unsympathetic nature as your's Aussie.

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l homayon-jones, blackburn says...
4:29pm Wed 21 Mar 07

We hope and pray that the Karims will continue in their fight and that they will eventually be allowed to settle in the UK. This lovely family needs the support of all of us.

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Mike Brailsford, Blackpool says...
6:15pm Wed 21 Mar 07

No-one wants your BNP views here Smithy. You'd be the one I'd kick out of Britain.

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Hassan, burnley says...
7:33pm Wed 21 Mar 07

smithy your views were harsh i mean why be racist what are black people doing to hurt you so much and for people like mike and homayon jones i would salute and say "go on"

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Doris, Burnley says...
7:56pm Wed 21 Mar 07

As a friend of Pearl Karim I cannot express the dismay I feel at the loss of this appeal. The family have integrated well into the local community and have always been more than happy to give up their time to help the local schools and church community. I cannot help but feel resentment that as a country we are happy to harbour criminals who fear for their lifes but will send a family back to Pakistan where a member of their family has already been murdered for their Christian belief. I hope that their fight will continue!

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Concerned, Lancs says...
11:30pm Wed 21 Mar 07

Smithy is NOT being racist. I wish people would first learn what racism is before accusing people who are simply talking common sense of it. It is unfortunate that a family who are obviously well thought of are having to go through this but rules are rules and the law is the law. I too wish our immigration laws were tighter but whilst our government thinks that everyone who it 'lets in' will vote for them, I'm afraid it won't change.

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linda, 384-518 says...
2:35pm Thu 22 Mar 07

what a crying shame for the family when many illegal immigrants are allowed to roam free a tax paying law abiding family kicked out the goverment should be ashamed of them selves whar about the human rights of the childer or has this shower of a govement brushed that under the rug.

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linda, says...
2:52pm Thu 22 Mar 07

aussie girl your country treats the real australians ie the aborigonies terrible your country should get its own house in order

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ms nutter, barnoldswick says...
3:01pm Thu 22 Mar 07

the karims are a decent integrated family who speak excellent english, have quealifications to work her, have well adjusted kids who are popular at school and should be allowed to stay here. the aussie person should be ashamed to even put the words in print as should the smithy character. I for one will be demonstrating against this injustice tonight with my family.

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lou, 802-882 says...
3:22pm Thu 22 Mar 07

i agree ms nutter i will also be demonstrating if smithy thinks its better over there then he should do us all a favor and go as for aussie girl words fail.

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Taylor, accrington says...
3:22pm Thu 22 Mar 07

why shouldn't they be allowed to stay, at least they have asked to stay and gone through the right channels, and not just married someone to stay here. As long as they provide for there family and don't claim from the government what difference does it make.

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Joo, Pendle says...
3:39pm Thu 22 Mar 07

What a shame that the rulung has gone against this family. They should be allowed to stay. Allowing a family to stay for 5 years and make a good life and allowing the children to settle into school and have to leave the only way of life they know is just cruel. Those who made the decision should be ashamed of themselves.

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nasser mahmood, NELSON says...
4:27pm Thu 22 Mar 07

The Karim family are telling a lie that they will be killed in Pakistan due to religion. The karim family are a coward family and using religion as a excuse just to stay here. All religions in Pakistan are respected.

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no way, says...
4:31pm Thu 22 Mar 07

if that bthe case why so many getting married to bring family over get real if its so good over there maybe you should go its the children lets not forget in all this they are going to suffer. is that also good in your book if so take a look at your self and hang your head in shame

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e-mail, says...
4:41pm Thu 22 Mar 07

i have e-mail tony blair
on the 10 downing steet wb site in disgust

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no way on (bullshit), nelson says...
4:42pm Thu 22 Mar 07

to come and stay here in the uk the correct way is everbodies right. but to come into this country in a cowardily way is wrong and using religion. no one is stoping this family to go back and reapply. the father and mother are to blame for the 5 years the children life. many hundreds of people are using this excuse, The Karims should be ashmed to be christian.

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typical, says...
4:52pm Thu 22 Mar 07

its still does not make this right for the children, its them i feel sorry for its teh only life they know, thats why its not right the kids have rights in this country and i respect all religions and am not prejedice in any way to anybody whatr ever the race colour or creed mr bullshit

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Concerned, Lancashire says...
5:36pm Thu 22 Mar 07

To come to the UK is NOT a right and should never be seen as such. To move to another, more affluent country is a priviledge and the sooner people realise this, the better for us all!

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snootyguy, Burnley says...
6:56pm Thu 22 Mar 07

Perhaps had this family been illegal and Muslim they would have been allowed to stay. So typical of the useless spivs in Westminster. Disgusting!

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l homayon-jones, blackburn says...
10:32pm Thu 22 Mar 07

2 comments firstly i suggest that nasser mahmood of nelson needs the reports of HRW regarding religion in pakistan.secondly, the karims are a family who are a credit to this country and should be supported not denigrated international law.

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Katherine Parker, Nelson says...
8:02am Fri 23 Mar 07

I would like to state very clearly to those sceptics among the people posting comments on this discussion board that the Karim family have certainly NOT lied about their past and current situations. In reply to 'No way on bull****'s comment, I think a bit of homework into the matter would inform his obviously distorted judgement - the Karims reapplied for asylum well over a year and 6 months ago but the Home Office lost their documents, which is what caused the situation to arise last May. If him and others still belief they are false, perhaps they should have attended last night's meeting at Nelson Town Hall and seen the immense support the Karims have from both the local people and Pendle Council's Councillors who HAVE done their research. Over 300 people attended and the executive panel unanimously voted in favour of the family. Again in response to 'no way on bull****' - the Karims certainly should NOT be ashamed to be Christians; they are strong and dedicated Christians who have the overwhelming support of Holy Saviour's Parish (of which they are parishioners) - it takes some dedication to attend all of the 6.30am Friday masses during Lent, including this morning! I would invite the sceptics to visit www.holysaviour.org.uk as the full story of the Karims' situation, including a report and photos from last night's meeting, are present on there. Maybe this will inform their judgement a lot better than it is currently doing.

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noeldhigginson, nelson says...
11:06am Fri 23 Mar 07

Even noah had the sense to know when the ark was full,u.k. policy has been let us see how many we can take on board until we sink.

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J, nelson says...
3:18pm Fri 23 Mar 07

I feel sorry for the children who have been uprooted and will be again because of the greedy & foolish actions of their parents. Why come all the way to England if all they wanted was to be "safe"? They are a lot of safe countries nearer to Pakistan than England. Methinks the attractive benefits system is an incentive for these sort of people and our immigration rules do need tightening up, regardless of colour, I am sick of seeing and hearing all these foreigners in the town I grew up in, its been ruined over the last 30 years, its a dangerous place now

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Caroline, Nelson says...
10:19pm Fri 23 Mar 07

Calvn goes to my school and i am going to be very sad to see him go. I went to their protest on thrusday and I got on the news. My brotherwas also a close friend of his so if anyone as Calvins phone number please can you email it too CrazyCazXo@hotmail.com

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Some truths, Nelson says...
9:44am Mon 26 Mar 07

There are a lot of muslims sent back to Muslim Countries with their families. It's a shame the christians do not think about these families, they are human too. I lived in Pakistan, I am a muslim and met a lot of christians who are doing very well and are well respected by muslims. If the Karim's are in dnager then they should e allowed to stay. Muslims are killed in Pakistan every day. Everybody in Pakistan has a relative that has been killed. Do you really want all the Pakistanis to start applying to this country? Or is it just the Christians?

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Belinda Ryan, London says...
2:29pm Mon 26 Mar 07

It is not at all safe for Christians in Pakistan. A very high percentage of asylum seekers turned down should not have been (procedural/legal errors). The Karims should be allowed to stay.

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Some more truths, Nelson says...
11:58am Wed 28 Mar 07


Guardian Friday March 16, 2007

'Pakistan's disappeared - men and women who have been abducted, imprisoned and in some cases tortured by the country's all-powerful intelligence agencies. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has counted 400 cases since 2002'

And they are all muslims. Not even one Christian. It is the Pakistani Goverment that is at fault for not making sure all Pakistani people live in a safe society. So lets not make this a Chritian - Muslim issue.

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aye_ready, Dundee says...
3:10pm Wed 28 Mar 07

We have an immigration policy for a reson, thus it weeds out those who are not legally entitled to stay in this country. Would you be so quick to defend the rights of known muslim extremists who the government are trying to deport? Lets deal in facts here, the family has been here for five years and all the right and proper checks will have been made regarding their claims of possible persecution in their own country due to their religious beliefs. I'm afraid it's a simple case of the facts not matching the claims being made and therefore the correct decision has been reached. If there are other circumstances that have not been made public then i would support a re-examination of the facts ..... Till then ..... Asta la Vista.

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terminator, nelson says...
2:18am Sun 1 Apr 07

i think that the karim family have every right of staying in the uk.
whoever made the decision should be shot. put yourself in their shoes.
HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
WHO WOULD YOU TURN TO?

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gabby, england says...
10:21am Tue 4 Dec 07

Im sorry but...if decisions like these aren't made then extremists are just going to start bombing London again aren't they!!!!! IF THEY DON'T LIKE OUR COUNTRY....THEN GET OUT!!!

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Comments are closed on this article.

BlOW: Nigel Karim and his family with the letter telling that their appeal for a judicial review had been refused BlOW: Nigel Karim and his family with the letter telling that their appeal for a judicial review had been refused

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