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More on KentOnline
A Ramsgate schoolboy facing deportation to Afghanistan is fighting to stay in the country he now calls home.
Mohammed Faiz Khaliqi, of Hollicondane Road, fears for his life and that his westernised background would be used by Isis for wrongdoing if he is forced to return.
He said: "If I was to go back as someone who speaks fluent English, they would force me to work for them and do things I do not want to do.
"I am westernised and need to stop this from happening - I want to stay here."
The young asylum seeker arrived in June 2012 after a blood feud put his safety at risk. He was put in care of Kent social services.
He said: “My older brother was involved in a car accident where a young child was killed and their family believed it was on purpose.
“The family wanted to take revenge and kill my brother but he left the country to save his life.
"I could be deported at any time and I’m scared someone’s going to take me without anyone else knowing..." - Mohammed Faiz Khaliqi
“My father died a few years ago and I was the oldest male in the house. They wanted revenge and started targeting me.
“My mother wanted to send me somewhere safe but each time I moved, I was found.
“She then paid agents to send me here because my life was in danger. It’s difficult to locate where I was taken, there are no road names.
“I was accompanied by an agent on different flights, wore headphones and was not allowed to talk to anyone.
“I’d never been in such a terrible position in my life and it was really difficult to leave my mother and younger brother behind. I don’t know where they are now.”
It took Mr Khaliqi 15 days to travel from Kote Sangi in Kabul, Afghanistan. He arrived in Kent in the back of a French lorry.
He had no documentation and social services chose him a school and foster family to live with, but he claims that his date of birth was falsely assessed.
“I know I was 14, not 15-and-a-half, but because of that decision I am now facing deportation earlier than I should.
“That now makes me 18 in their eyes and old enough to care for myself but the reality is that no matter your age you are not safe in Afghanistan.”
He is in his final year at the Marlowe Academy studying A Levels in business studies and ICT.
“The teachers are really happy with my work and I have met many friends inside and outside school.
“But with the worry of being deported at any moment I’ve struggled to sleep and seen a doctor who gave me sleeping tablets.
“My practices in Islam have ceased, I’ve lived with a British family before and I’m just a normal teenager with friends living on my own in Ramsgate.
“The Afghanistan government advised in February that nobody is sent there and that 87% of the country is not secure. Planes make it in but not always out.”
Mr Khaliqi has been refused asylum more than once.
A Home Office spokesman said: “His claim was refused in September 2012, although he was granted discretionary leave until July 2014.
“He made a further application for discretionary leave which was refused on 31 October 2014.
“This decision has been upheld by an independent immigration judge although he does still have the right to appeal.”
His final appeal must be submitted to the upper tribunal by next week with a decision due in two weeks.
He added: “I would really like to be allowed to stay here so I can carry on a normal life.
“I want to go to university to do accounting and finance in the future but I haven’t been able to even look into it because of this distressing time.
“I’m hoping one day everything will be over because I feel really insecure - I could be deported at any time and I’m scared someone’s going to take me without anyone else knowing.”
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