A postgraduate student at the University of Stirling has been arrested and detained by the Home Office after allegedly violating the terms of his student visa.
According to an open letter headed by Amnesty at University of Stirling, Student Action for Refugees Stirling, NUS Scotland and No Evictions Network, Muhammad is accused of breaching the terms of his student visa by working more than the legally permitted 20 hours per week.
He was arrested in June 2023 and has been detained for over seven weeks at Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre, near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire.
The court has denied his application for bail and his visa has also been cancelled.
The open letter states that the student has spoken to the organisers and ‘is experiencing extreme emotional distress and declining physical and mental health as a result of his prolonged detention.’
At the time of writing, the open letter has garnered more than 400 signatures and is continuing to gather attention on social media.
The open letter also states:
“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!”
Find the full statement here.
Featured Image Credit: Stirling Uni
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