THE mother of a young Syrian woman who has been given just months to live has been granted permission to visit her daughter in Scotland for what will likely be the last time.
Nour fled her war-torn homeland almost a year ago to join her husband in Glasgow, only to be diagnosed with terminal colon cancer, which has spread aggressively to other parts of her body. Doctors gave the mother-of-one, who also had to have a termination because of her illness, between three and six months to live.
The 25-year-old, who is fearful of her full identity being revealed, wanted to see her mother Nayfa and younger sister Sulaaf before she died, but the family were worried that any rejection or delay in visas being obtained could be too late for their reunion.
Nayfa and Sulaaf completed their biometrics in Beirut before finalising their visitors’ visa application and, as The National reported earlier this month, Nour’s lawyer and her then MP made a plea to the Home Office to expedite the application. Yesterday their hope was realised.
Leading immigration lawyer, Usman Aslam, said common sense had prevailed: “McGlashan MacKay worked tirelessly at this application, and we are pleased to have had a result in what is a very tragic case.
“We are of the view that common sense has prevailed here and it will allow a mother to see her daughter before the inevitable happens.
“We must not forget however that the Visitor Visa rules set out in Appendix V of the immigration rules, require some serious revision in how it is implemented.
“There is a real on-going issue with the approach to visitor visas, where family members are, more often than not, denied the right to visit the UK to see family for a short period.
“We would invite the Secretary of State to seriously reconsider the approach she takes in these applications. We are proud of our on-going efforts in very difficult Immigration cases and are pleased that the Home Office have approved this application.”
SNP General Election candidate Chris Stephens, who previously wrote to the Home Secretary on behalf of the woman, said: “I’m delighted for the woman in question, but once again it shows the complete failure of the anti-humanitarian attitude of the Home Office that many of us as politicians have to campaign hard to ensure that there is some dignity in the visa and immigration process.”
The family added: “We wish to thank our Solicitor Usman Aslam who has made this happen for us, and also to everyone who was involved. This is a very sad time for us however it is a miracle that Nour can see her mother and sister before the end.”
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