• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Set For Life
      • Thunderball
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News Education

Teenage asylum seeker excels in Highers despite deportation fears

The family of Somer Umeed Bakhsh fled Pakistan after receiving death threats because of their Christian faith.

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2019-08-06 16:09
in Education
Somer (right) with his brother Areeb (Cameron Brooks/Church of Scotland/PA)

Somer (right) with his brother Areeb (Cameron Brooks/Church of Scotland/PA)

FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

A teenage asylum seeker has excelled in his exams despite fearing deportation to Pakistan.

Somer Umeed Bakhsh got four As and a B in his Highers and now aspires to be an astrophysicist.

The 16-year-old, who is a pupil at Springburn Academy in Glasgow, fled the country with his family in 2012 after his father Maqsood was subjected to death threats due to his Christian faith.

Their plea for asylum has been repeatedly rejected by the UK Government, even though blasphemy in Pakistan carries the death penalty.

He said: “I want to thank my primary school teachers who provided me with a strong foundation and my secondary school teachers who put in the hard work and taught me.

“I am also very thankful for my parents who, despite the stressful situation, always encouraged and supported me.

“Above all, I want to thank God, who helped me to stay focused on my studies in the midst of these tough times.”

Church of Scotland Moderator petition
Somer (left) and Areeb with the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the Right Reverend Susan Brown (centre left) and Possilpark Parish Church minister Reverend Linda Pollock (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Nearly 94,000 people have signed two petitions calling on the Home Office not to deport Somer and his brother, Areeb, 14, from Scotland.

They fear they will be killed by Islamic extremists if they are forced to return to Pakistan.

RelatedPosts

60 universities in Germany quit X due to amplification of far-right populist content

Prestigious private school group sets up ‘hardship fund’ for parents

Eton hikes head master salary by £100k ahead of planned VAT rises

Schools like Eton have found a way to cash in on new VAT rules – and it could cost the taxpayer millions

The family – who have been living in limbo for more than seven years – attend Possilpark Parish Church, where they are described as “leading lights” of the congregation.

Minister Reverend Linda Pollock said: “Somer is living under considerable strain and he is an example to us all.

“How many adults would be able to achieve four As and one B at Higher level whilst coping with the threat of imminent departure to a place where they are a target for extremist Islamists?”

Now in sixth year, Somer got As in maths, chemistry, physics and English and a B in design and manufacture.

Syrian refugee wins award for learning Welsh click here

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

← Cross-party group of politicians launch legal challenge to stop PM forcing through no-deal Brexit ← Wolves sign striker from Portuguese club
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lottery Results
    • Lotto
    • Set For Life
    • Thunderball
    • EuroMillions
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE thelondoneconomic.com - All Rights Reserved. Privacy

-->