Hazara Nation

A REFUGEE hoping to remain in the UK after fleeing Afghanistan has taken his plight to West Ham MP Lyn Brown.

Brampton Manor pupil Kamal Begi, 16, visited the House of Commons to present her with a petition containing more than 1,000 signatures. He was accompanied by his uncle Aramudin and school representatives.

Kamal, of Stratford, said: "I am touched by the sympathy shown by my MP. She seemed really to care and now I am hopeful that I shall be able to stay here."

Ms Brown said she would make representations on Kamal's behalf. If his application to stay fails she vowed to take his case to Minister for Borders and Immigration, Liam Byrne.

Threat of deportation hangs over Kamal who arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker more than six years ago.

He said his father and one of his two uncles were murdered and he was threatened with a gun.

His family belong to the Hazara tribe who have been subjected to ethnic cleansing, said Kamal.

Leaving family behind, Kamal arrived in the UK with his surviving uncle and was granted exceptional leave to remain for one year.

He applied for extension of his leave to remain but was turned down. He appealed in 2005 and is yet to have a decision.

A UK Border Agency spokesperson has said: "We do not comment on individual cases. We will not remove someone if they have an application outstanding or they are pursuing an avenue of appeal.