A couple whose son fled Ukraine after the invasion by Russian troops have made a desperate appeal to the Home Office to allow him to come and live with them in Dumfries.
Sareb Meslmani and Abdul Majeed Hijazi are fighting to overturn a decision to reject 23-year-old Naeem’s visa application.
The pair have lived in the town for more than three years after leaving their home in Syria as civil war spread through the country.
Son Naeem spent time with his family as a refugee in Lebanon but the cost of education meant he had to travel to Sudan to study medicine.
When revolution swept through the African country, he left for Egypt and applied for a visa to Ukraine.
He enrolled at a university in the eastern city of Kharkiv but just two months later the Russian invasion put his studies on hold once again.
Naeem fled by train to the western city of Lviv and then walked for miles to the Polish border.
Despite fearing he would not be allowed to cross into an EU country as he’s not a Ukrainian citizen, Naeem was eventually put on a coach, driven through Poland and is now in Germany.
The UK Government has relaxed visa requirements for Ukrainian refugees but, as Naeem is Syrian, the specific schemes are unlikely to apply to him.
His parents are now pleading with the Home Office to review his application and allow him to be with them in Dumfries where they have created a new life and made new friends.
The pair volunteer with local refugee charity MOOL, Massive Outpouring of Love.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Naeem has suffered through three wars in three different countries and we think he deserves to finally be safe and settled with his family at home in Dumfries.
“When the process for resettlement started, Naeem was not allowed to re-enter Lebanon due to the restrictions enforced by the Lebanese Government and could not attend the required interviews to enter the UK with his family.
“Sarab and Abdul Majeed came to the UK when they were assured that he would be able to join them. However, that turned out not to be true.
“A separate UN case was created for him which did not progress at all.
“He applied for and got a visa to study in Kharkiv, Ukraine, but the Russian invasion means he has had to put his studies on hold once again.
“A petition we started has been passed to MSP Finlay Carson. Politicians Alister Jack and Oliver Mundell are also aware of Naeem’s plight.
“We are really hoping he is allowed to come and be with his parents soon.”
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