Deportation fear of Kurdish student in age dispute

Rabar Hamad holding photocopied identification documents

AN orphaned Breeze Hill School student, who fled Iraq after his parents were killed, faces being deported after authorities ruled he is older than he claims.

Kurdish youngster Rabar Hamad spent 10 days in the wheel arch of a truck escaping from his home in Kirkuk, northern Iraq, after his parents were killed by a bomb in 2008.

He arrived in Wigan, where the town’s social services department has been caring for him.

But Wigan Social Services believe Rabar — who insists he is 16 — is actually 20 and have now scrapped funding for his place at a children’s home in Oldham.

He faces becoming homeless on August 5 and being deported back to Iraq where he fears for his own safety.

Rabar said: “I had many problems in Iraq, my parents were killed by a bomb in 2008 and a neighbour helped me to get out on a truck.

“For 10 days I only had water and biscuits. I didn’t know where I was going, I didn’t know anything about England, I just knew I’d be safe.”

Social workers undertake age assessments on any unaccompanied asylum-seeking young person which include looking at physical appearance, communication and personal background.

They originally decided he was 18 in 2008. A second assessment by an independent doctor said he was aged between 13 to 16.

He moved to an Oldham children’s home last year and joined Breeze Hill School in September.

But Wigan social workers have now withdrawn funding after a re-assessment this year decided he was 20.

As his asylum application was refused, Rabar faces being deported despite claims that he has proof of age. Rabar said he was stunned to be deemed an adult.

He said: “They asked me questions, sometimes I understood, sometimes I didn’t.

“The first interpreter spoke Arabic, but I speak Kurdish.

“They said I was 18, then later 20, but do I look like I’m 20?”

He felt safe for the first time at the home and added: “It is so good, the staff are brilliant and they make food for me. I’m really happy.

“Breeze Hill is brilliant.

“I only had one year of school when I was six but now I am reading and writing.

“I like English and science and will take some GCSEs if I am here next year.”

Rabar dreams of being a footballer and has had trials for Fulham, Bury and the Nike Football Academy. He won the school’s Best Player of the Year award and plays for Oldham Greenhill Football Club.

Failing that, he would like to work as a plumber or electrician.

His English teacher Sally Hyman was at his last meeting with social workers last Wednesday.

She said: “They said he would have to leave the children’s home, the implication that they would no longer be providing any money for children’s home that he lives in.

“The social worker handed Rabar documents for the application of his removal on Wednesday.

“Rabar had official documents showing his age and photos on his file but the originals have been lost by either the Home Office or Social Services and photocopies can’t be accepted.”

Rabar is desperate for contact with his 10-year-old sister in Iraq and said: “I’m worried for my safety.

“I don’t want to go to Iraq, they will kill me like they did my parents.

“I want to stay, the children’s home is safe and I can get an education.

“I like everyone here and I want to study and live here.

“I’d like to live here forever.”

The school has started a petition urging the Home Secretary to allow Rabar to stay. It wants Rabar be properly age assessed by a medical expert.

Staff have also contacted Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, and head teacher Bernard Phillips said: “Breeze Hill is in full support of Rabar and his application to stay in the UK.

“He is a wonderful student and deserves justice.”

Marlyn Banham, Wigan Council's Head of Social Care (CYPS), said they could not comment on individual cases but confirmed they had undertaken two age assessments which had reached the same conclusion.

She said: “We have also sought independent legal advice on this issue and this has not disagreed with these findings.”