LET HIM STAY

BY JOHN WARE

11:00 - 07 November 2003

A South Devon woman has been left heartbroken because her "illegal immigrant" husband is due to be deported next week.

Bedri Haziri, 34, is well-known and popular in Teignmouth where he was seeking asylum after fleeing his native Kosovo because of the violence.

He met and fell in love with Susan Giesler, 49, and they married a few months later in September 2000. Bedri worked long unpaid hours in her cafe, Bow Windows in Teign Street, and was popular with her family and customers.

But his application to stay in the UK was turned down, and this week he was arrested and detained, and is now awaiting deportation back to Kosovo on Wednesday.

His family and friends claim his deportation flies in the face of an announcement from Home Secretary David Blunkett just a fortnight ago which may give an amnesty to 15,000 refugee families who applied to live and work in the UK more than three years ago.

Susan, who had been divorced from her first husband, and her family are fighting the order, and are angry because they claim he has been treated like a criminal.

She said: "He reported monthly to the police, and when he went in this week, an immigration officer was waiting for him and he was arrested.

"But he was given no warning and we have no idea where he is being held so we can visit him. It has left me heartbroken and in tears because I love him dearly and at least want to see him, even if it is to say goodbye. "Everybody in the family loves him, including my two daughters and son, and three grandchildren. It is so cruel."

Bedri, who speaks three languages, entered Britain in a lorry from the continent, and was sent to the former Dun Esk refugees home in Teignmouth while his bid to stay was considered three years ago.

"He fully admits he came in illegally, but has since been a model citizen, settling down as a hard working family man and never getting into any trouble.

"Without him, I will just not be able to run the cafe because he helped in everything including waiting, cooking, cleaning and looking after the books," said a distraught Susan.

Her sister, Janet Boyne, is angry at the way the case has been handled by the immigration department, and described Bedri as "a kind and gentle man who is loved and respected by family, friends and locals".

She claims it is contrary to Home Secretary Mr Blunkett's announcement that thousands of asylum seekers who have been here for some years will be allowed to stay.

The family are fighting the deportation, and have enlisted the help of Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross.

He said: "I have written to the Home Office asking them to defer Bedri's removal until I am able to look into his case further.

"They came to me two years ago for help, and it is disappointing at a time when a large number of cases have been given an amnesty, that Bedri should be treated in this way.

"He has established himself in the community. I understand he is well respected and works hard. On the face of it, there appears to be good reasons for him to be allowed to stay on humanitarian grounds."