7:00pm Wednesday 25th October 2006
By Charlotte Bradshaw
A FAMILY of Nelson asylum seekers are battling to stay in the country after they were told they have no right to be in the UK.
The Karims, who say they will be killed for being Christians if they are sent to Pakistan, cannot appeal against a deportation ruling, the Home Office has said.
Nigel, 52, and Pearl Karim, 44, and children, Calvin, 11, and Crystal, 13, have lived in Nelson, since 2002.
Mrs Karim said the family's solicitor was planning a judicial review and the campaign to stay is continuing despite the recent bad news.
The family has received support from hundreds of people in the community in their bid to win asylum.
They were ejected from their house in Barkerhouse Road by armed police officers and threatened with deportation when their first plea for asylum was rejected in May.
They were given just a few minutes to pack their belongings, and taken off to the Yarlswood detention centre, near Luton. But the Karims were released after being given more time to prepare a second bid for asylum.
The Karims claim that if they are deported they will be killed by people who will be angry that Mr Karim has converted to Christianity.
Campaigners, who are putting pressure on the Home Office to let them stay, said the family will face persecution because of their Christian beliefs.
Mrs Karim, a devout Christian from Pakistan, said: "We are doing anything we possibly can - I am a desperate woman and I am going to do anything to save my family from deportation." If we go back our lives are in danger."
A Home Office spokesman refused to comment on the Karim's case but said: "As part of a robust immigration policy we will seek to remove anybody who has no right to be in the country and has exhausted the appeal process."
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