Supporters rally to back student Rabar

SUPPORT . . . Mohammed Jubir (front) and other friends of Rabar Hamad gather signatures for their petition in Oldham town centre

Orphan is facing threat of deportation

DEDICATED friends of an Iraqi orphan facing deportation braved the pouring rain to generate support for his cause.

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 was originally cared for in Wigan but the town’s social services department scrapped funding for his place at a children’s home in Oldham following a dispute over his age.

Rabar, who dreams of being a footballer and is doing well with his studies at Breeze Hill School, faces becoming homeless on August 5 and being deported to Iraq, where he fears for his own safety.

An age assessment, which takes into account physical appearance, communication and personal background, has placed Rabar’s age at anywhere between 13 and 20.

Breeze Hill School has started a petition urging the Home Secretary to allow Rabar to stay and be properly age assessed by a medical expert.

Friends and teachers asked shoppers in Oldham town centre to sign their petition and get behind the campaign to allow Rabar to stay in this country.

Sally Hyman, who teaches English as a foreign language at Breeze Hill, said: “We got some good responses from the people of Oldham despite the pouring rain and we now have 300 names on our petition.

“We are seeing a solicitor to see how we can progress Rabar’s case and taking advice on our next step.

“I would encourage anyone who hasn’t yet signed the petition to do so or send messages of support for Rabar to Breeze Hill School.”

The online petition is at www.petitiononline.com/hamad93/petition