Young Builder of the Year faces forcible removal from the UK

An Afghan teen who won last year's Apprentice of the Year award and was highly commended at the UK’s Young Builder of the Year Awards is facing forcible removal from the UK.

Walid Durani fled Afghanistan in 2012 after the Taliban kidnapped his father and beheaded his grandfather for supplying oil to the US military. As Walid had been threatened with the same fate as his grandfather, Walid’s mother sent him to the UK to join his sister.

Because the then 14-year-old did not possess documentation to prove his grandfather was murdered, the UK Immigration Judge ruled he was an economic migrant and not an asylum seeker. However, Walid was allowed to remain in the UK as immigration policy allows under 18s to stay in the country. It also allows them to attend school and to work and pay tax.

However, upon turning 18, the Immigration Judge's 2012 ruling on Walid's case has now come into force and he faces forcible removal from the UK. Walid has attempted to obtain documents to prove his grandfather was murdered, but the situation in Afghanistan is currently so chaotic, his efforts have failed. He has also exhausted his legal avenues here in the UK.

A grim fate awaits him if he is returned to Afghanistan and he fears for his life. Ethnic hatred has flared in the last decade, and murder and rape of both men and women has become commonplace. As a member of the Pashtun tribe, Walid would face almost certain persecution upon returning to the country, as he has no family or friends there now.

Meanwhile, the Let Walid Stay! campaign is growing in momentum, with an article on the front page of the The Independent, and interviews on BBC South Today, BBC Radio Berkshire, BBC Radio Surrey and Radio Eagle, with more media coverage being planned.

Ironically, Walid received his Young Builder award last year from Lord Bird at the Houses of Parliament!

We now need funds to help the campaign to let him stay.