Shafiq has been studying at Croydon College. Pic: Paul Gillett
More than 270 people have signed a petition calling on Theresa May to stop the deportation of two Afghan students.
Sherdil, 18, and Shafiq, 24, both left Afghanistan as children to seek asylum in the UK. The pair have been living in Croydon care homes since their early teens and have established lives here.
Last week, the two men were detained and issued tickets to be forcibly sent back to Afghanistan tomorrow, March 10.
Lara Farrell, assistant youth caseworker at South London Refugee Association, told Eastlondonlines: “Both Sherdil and Shafiq are in a bad state, they have barely eaten or slept since they were detained last week.”
“Both are wanted by the Taliban – who murdered their parents and siblings”, said Farrell.
They have no security or support in their home country and will be “destitute” and “homeless” if they are sent back.
We just visited Sherdil & Shafiq in detention. They are in a very bad way. Please help https://t.co/eLd8ue5Lze pic.twitter.com/Cf7flCzZG0
— Stop The Plane! (@PleaseSaveThem) 8 mars 2015
Last week, Shafiq’s foster-father, to whom he was very close, died and the funeral will be held tomorrow, the same day as they are being returned.
Sherdil, who is described as an “outstanding” student by his teachers at John Ruskin College, has been living in Croydon since 2010. Shafiq is currently studying health and social care at Croydon College.
Farrell said: “None of these guys were given the legally required five days notice of charter plane deportation.”
“The nature of charter planes is hideous, they are a very secretive brutal operation”, she said.
Click here to view and sign the petition.
