Woman to be deported to Pakistan, faces forced marriage to cousin

Tuesday 02nd July 2019 14:03 EDT
 

A 23-year-old woman who has won offers to study astrophysics at some of the UK's most prestigious universities, now can be deported to Pakistan.

Born in Islamabad, she has lived half her life in the UK but can now be deported to the country of her birth where her father is demanding that she marry her older cousin. Disobeying him could see her ostracised or even killed for violating her family’s “honour”, she fears.

Her appeal for asylum was rejected in February after officials claimed there was not sufficient evidence she was at risk. She has lodged an appeal and is awaiting the outcome of the hearing held this month. Her solicitor, said the Home Office based its earlier rejection on its belief that her father, who had worked as a Pakistani civil servant, did not fit the profile of an abuser.

However, the Home Office has said that the decision makers took into account “all available evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information, which covers country specific issues relating to gender-based harm”


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