HUNDREDS of people have signed an open letter calling for the Home Office to review the case of a postgraduate student at the University of Stirling who has been detained.
Muhammad Rauf Waris was arrested and detained by immigration workers after being accused of breaching the conditions of his visa by working more than the legally permitted 20 hours per week.
However, despite saying he has presented evidence to the contrary, he has been held at Dunvegal Immigration Removal Centre for seven weeks.
He said he his health has deteriorated since arriving, that he is unable to eat and that his family are “suffering” worrying about him.
The open letter
The open letter explains that Waris believed he was following all legal requirements, attending all his classes and completing all his assignments.
The Court has denied his application for bail, leaving him in Dungavel awaiting a decision on whether the case can be judicially reviewed.
The letter can be accessed and signed HERE.
It reads: “We are becoming increasingly worried about our fellow student, specifically regarding his health and are appalled by the way his case has been handled – despite having provided the Home Office with evidence to support that he was following the conditions of his visa over a month ago, they are yet to review his case.
“The student continues to live in limbo. We urge the Home Office to review his case, properly consider the evidence he has provided, and make a decision on the case promptly – rather than unnecessarily prolonging the deprivation of the student’s liberty which has proven to have detrimental effects on him.
“We stand in full solidarity and hope to welcome him back in our community at the University of Stirling as soon as possible.”
The letter has been signed by a number of organisations including NUS Scotland, Student Action for Refugees Stirling, Amnesty at University of Stirling and No Evictions Network.
