Azim loses fight to stay in country
Afghan refugee, Azim Ansari has had his appeal to remain in the UK rejected.
He will now proceed to a tribunal in an attempt to continue his Engineering degree at St John's College. Whilst OUSU campaigners continue to back his cause, St John's seem to have given up hope.
Azim, 21, and his brother Wali received the verdict on their court hearing on Wednesday 19th January.
Unless they win their tribunal they will have to return to Afghanistan after the Home Office deemed it safe for male nationals to do so. To re-apply to Oxford as an international student will be beyond his financial means.
When it was suggested by The Oxford Student that St John's might consider waiving his fees they declined to comment. The college President made the statement: "We are very sorry if this decision means that Azim will not be able to complete his studies here. He is an excellent student, and we have done all we can to support his wish to study engineering at St John's."
Student support for Azim remains high. The OUSU "Keep Azim in Oxford" campaign is considering a variety of actions in order to raise awareness of Ansari's plight.
Possibilities include sending JCR Presidents to lobby MP Des Browne and organising a protest when he comes to debate at The Oxford Union on 13th February.
There may be an on-going vigil of the same nature as the one held last term and it is thought that a large rally would help to convey the scale of support for the brothers.
Fundraising events have also been suggested to relieve Azim of the travel expenses he is incurring in connection with the case.
The direction the campaign will now take is being left up to Ansari himself. Emma Jones, the campaign co-ordinator, told The Oxford Student: "We're committed to supporting him as he wants. We don't want to do anything to jeopardise his case. We're behind him all the way and we won't give up until we've won."
27th Jan 2005