The Argus - News, Sport, Brighton and Hove Albion and Entertainment for Brighton, Hove and Sussex

Teenager goes into hiding to avoid deportation

From the The Argus, first published Tuesday 21st Nov 2006.

A 17-year-old boy has been in hiding since his Kurdish father was seized from their home and taken away for deportation.

Failed asylum seeker Ekrem Ovunc, 41, was captured in a dawn raid at his house in Chatsworth Road, Brighton, on Monday, November 13, and was due to be returned to his native Turkey on Wednesday.

The deportation has been delayed following pressure from Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper and several campaign groups in Brighton and Hove, who raised concerns about his safety.

Mr Ovunc fled Turkey in 2000 after allegedly being tortured for his involvement with the Kurdish independence organisation PKK. His father, grandfather and uncle were all killed by the Turkish authorities, he claims.

Mr Lepper said: "I would be very concerned for any Kurds being returned to Turkey, particularly for one who has been involved with the PKK and especially in view of recent EU reports, which have raised questions over the country's human rights record."

Human rights group Amnesty International has reported several cases of Kurds being imprisoned and maltreated after being deported back to Turkey.

Lawyer Dominic Lafont, who has been representing Mr Ovunc, said: "He is in no doubt that he will be killed if he is sent back."

Dozens of friends and campaigners faxed the Home Office to protest at his treatment. Mr Lepper has written to Home Secretary John Reid to ask for his case to be reconsidered.

Mr Ovunc's son Ibrahim, a student at Brighton, Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College, was not at home when his father was seized and has not been seen since.

The college said it was concerned for his well-being. His pastoral tutor Jacy Marks said hard-working Ibrahim's behaviour had changed significantly since he and his father were detained for three weeks on a previous occasion in March. He had become nervous and withdrawn.

Both father and son had their asylum applications refused by the immigration service because they were not considered to be in significant danger if sent home.

A Home Office spokesman said yesterday it could not comment on individual cases.

He said: "The Government has made it clear that it will take a robust approach to removing people from the country where they have no legal right to be here.

"We only return those who the asylum decision making and independent appeals processes have found do not need protection and who can therefore return safely."

Mary-Jane Burkett, a friend and worker at the Brighton charity Voices In Exile, said: "Ekrem was terrified of being deported. The situation for Kurds in Turkey is getting worse and he has every reason to be fearful.

"He has lived in Brighton for six years and has made it his home. He is a nice man and is very popular. He does volunteer work at the Chapel Royal tea room in North Street and is well liked there."

Mr Lafont said Mr Ovunc was being held at the Colnbrook Detention Centre at Heathrow airport and no indication had been given on when he would be either deported or freed.

He called on people to support Ekrem and Ibrahim by writing with their concerns to the immigration minister Liam Byrne at the Home Office, 3rd Floor, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF or by faxing 020 7035 4745.

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