Fight The Deportation of School Teacher Farhan Zakaria

But now he faces deportation as his visa was only valid while his father was working for the Bangladesh High Commission, which he stopped doing in 2000. They have never recoursed to public funds during their stay in the UK, they have acquired jobs and paid taxes. Sending him back to a country he finds foreign to him would be a clear travesty.

As a language teacher he has been teaching French and Bengali in secondary school for the last four years. Farhan says "French has been a fascinating subject to teach. I enjoy teaching and take pride in my profession in raising standards. It is the enthusiasm and feedback from pupils. After a hard working day you can smile and be happy that they have learned something today."

He also says "It is vital for the new generation to learn at least one foreign language as it opens the door to employment. This can also apply to making use of your mother tongue, Bengali for me, which you may not think straight away can help you get a job."

Mr Zakaria argues it would be a breach of his right to a family and private life if he is sent back to Bangladesh. But immigration judges have rejected his claim as well as that of his parents and elder brother.

Mr Zakaria said he did not realise his visa was not indefinite, and is seeking leave to appeal against the decision to the High Court.

The UK is his home

We need teachers like Farhan / This is why we need your help.

Farhan has the full support of the National Union of Teacher (NUT)

Show your support!

There are many ways you can help. Get active now, to support somebody who is a true asset to this country.

What the campaign 'Friends of Farhan' has done so far:
Set up a dedicated website:  http://www.supportfarhan.co.uk/
Set up an online petition:  http://www.petitiononline.com/FZ0001/petition.html

On Monday 6th October the Headteacher announced to a senior staff meeting that Farhan faced imminent deportation. The following day a group of staff met to discuss what we could do to help and decided on the following:

A collection among the staff to support Farhan and his family following Farhan's suspension without pay: in the first week this raised £609.

A petition to be sent out both to staff at Sarah Bonnell and Newham schools. This is going very well and we have also have messages of support from Forest Gate Community School and an offer of help from Brampton Manor School.

On-line petition set up: to date this has been signed by over 1,800 people.

Jeremy Corbyn MP wrote a letter to the school NUT and a letter to Stephen Timms offering support. George Galloway MP has offered to do the same.

Contacted the TES (Times Educational Supplement): full and very sympathetic article appeared on Friday with photo.

Organised a demonstration march from the school to Stratford Centre: Around 80 students and 20 staff attended this. A report was aired on Radio London at 5:50pm on Thursday and there was brief coverage on BBC London television news at 10:20pm. On Friday a full article and photo appeared in the Evening Standard.

Support for Farhan and his family is huge and we hope the campaign so far has highlighted this.

Enquiries/further information:
Caroline Coleman
NUT Rep Newham
Sarah Bonnell School
Deanery Road, Stratford
London E15 4LP
 ccolemanuk@hotmail.com
Farhan Zakaria:  zakaria_farhan@hotmail.com

End of Bulletin:

Source for this Message:
'Friends of Farhan'