Bishop appeals for reprieve for Notts church family due to be deported this week

The Bishop of Southwell & Nottingham, the Rt Revd George Cassidy, is appealing to the Home Secretary to reconsider the case of a Pakistani family who are due to be sent back to the country they fled from two years ago, at the end of this week.

Mr Julian Singh, his wife Aima and 11 year old son Jonathan were taken to Yarleswood Detention Centre for deportation to Pakistan last week, after their plea for asylum was rejected. They are due to be sent back to Pakistan on Friday morning (31st October) when they will be put on a plane from Heathrow Airport.

The Bishop said: “The Singhs are a Christian family who were escaping blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Mr Singh and his family are making a significant contribution to the church and their community in Nottingham. The persecution of Christians in Pakistan is well documented and if we really believe in a society where all faiths make a contribution we should not be sending people back to a situation where this is not the case and where they are likely to be in danger. I hope that this case can be urgently reconsidered in the interests both of justice and the cohesion of our communities.”

The Bishop wrote to the Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP, Secretary of State for the Home Office, this week explaining the family’s plight and his reasons for supporting their case.

Julian is a licensed lay minister in the Church of Pakistan and has been exercising this ministry in St Stephen with St Paul’s Church, Hyson Green, Nottingham, where he has been leading services, co-leading a small multicultural fellowship group, and been part of a drama group. He is currently studying on our diocesan certificate course – showing he has the support and confidence of his congregation. His wife and son are also settled in the local community.

Local supporters and members of the church are encouraging people to join them in petitioning the Home Office to re-consider their case. Letter or emails can be sent to the solicitors: shehzadb@paragonlaw.co.uk  or contact the Vine Community Centre, Bobbers Mill Road, Nottingham.

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For further information contact Rachel Farmer tel 01636 817218 mobile 077 121 96381