Ismet Hyseni - Belongs to Glasgow

Ismet Hyseni came to Glasgow, Scotland in May 1999 under the UK government Special Kosovan 'Humanitarian Evacuation Programme'. Ismet arrived in Glasgow along with several other family members. His father, sister, 3 brothers, plus 13 nephews and nieces were given Indefinite Leave to Remain; most of them have now taken out British nationality. Ismet has been the only member of the family who failed to get recognition as a refugee.

Since Ismet has lived in Scotland, he has been law-abiding and always compliant of immigration and asylum procedures. Ismet has completed college courses in English and Computing, and is involved in volunteer work. Prior to being detained, Ismet had been doing unpaid work for British Red Cross in Glasgow and was due to start as a shadow teacher at Shawlands Academy on the 20th September as a part of the Bridges Project. This demonstrates his ability to communicate fluently in English and also his ability to integrate into local community.

Ismet has no other surviving relatives in Kosovo. If he is refused permission to work and settle permanently here in UK, his future in Kosovo looks bleak and traumatic. Ismet is terrified to return to his country of origin because of the past persecution and trauma both he and his family members endured. If he is forced to return to Kosovo, he will have no home, family support or means to support himself. His family here will not return to Kosovo because of the horrific past. It is absolutely inhumane to expect Ismet Hyseni to leave the UK after 7 years and to leave all his family members behind, with the possibility of never ever seeing them again in his life, all because of UK Home Office's lack of compassion.

On Sunday 20th August 2006, Ismet was arrested at his home in a dawn raid. He was taken to Dungavel Detention Centre before being transferred to Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre on the 22nd August and due to be forcibly removed to Kosovo on Thursday 24th August. However, his lawyer urgently sought an injunction against his removal. The judge agreed to hear the case and advised the removal to be cancelled pending the outcome of legal arguments. Immigration refused to grant Temporary Admission, so Ismet applied for bail. On 6th October this application was refused. However, on 11th October after 2 months in detention, Ismet was released on Temporary Admission. On 16th October Ismet learnt that his application for Judicial Review was rejected. Despite being released from detention and trying to get the court to decide his fate, Ismet is still at risk of being forcibly removed from UK.

Ismet, his brothers, sisters, etc. were all told by Serb military in 1999 to leave their village within 2 hours or be killed amid their house being destroyed. The family packed up and headed towards Macedonia.

The Hyseni family were traumatised, skeletal, withdrawn and afraid when they first came to Glasgow. The Kosovo war has affected each member of this family deeply mentally and physically.

Ismet and the Hyseni clan were amongst the first asylum seekers to come to Glasgow in 1999. Why, after 7 years, is Ismet still waiting for the right to settle permanently in UK? Why was he taken into detention without justification and in a dawn raid? Why is his future still uncertain? Why is he faced with the worry of being forcibly removed from UK? Ismet has a dream - to be a maths teacher here in UK. Please help him stay in UK so he can fulfill his dream - but importantly, because such a dream is also UK's gain economically and socially.

This is inhumane treatment of a man who has complied with Home Office at every stage for nearly 7 years. It is time for Ismet to be spared from the threat of being detained / forcibly removed, and to be granted the right to settle in UK just as the Home Office allowed his brothers, sisters, elderly father etc. to do.

Please use your voice to support Ismet Hyseni in his battle to stay in UK, safe and amongst his family.

How you can help Ismet Hyseni stay in Glasgow:
Friends of Ismet and Leicester ANSU UK have set up a campaign, they are asking recipients of this message to: Fax Liam Byrne, Minister for Immigration, using the model letter 'Attached', That you can copy/amend/write your own version. If you write your own version, please quote Ismet's Home Office ref. no. H1020175

Fax: 020 7035 4745 from outside the UK + 44 20 7035 4745

Send copies of faxes sent to campaign co-ordinator:
ANSU UK
Geraldine MacVicar
g_  macv@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 07881 948859.
House 96
15 Grafton Place
Glasgow
G1 2TE