Youssef Mikhaiel, an Egyptian man who has a rare genetic disorder, has been granted permission to remain in the UK until 2026. Mikhaiel, who suffers from Fabry disease, had been due to be deported in June, but the Court of Session in Edinburgh delayed the move. Fabry disease causes damage to the heart, kidneys, and nervous system, and there is no accessible treatment available for Mikhaiel in Egypt.
The Home Office has sent a letter to Mikhaiel stating that it has “exceptional circumstances”, which have led to its decision to exercise discretion and grant him leave to stay for two years. While Mikhaiel is relieved at the decision and is looking forward to starting his treatment, he said that he could not comprehend his initial detention. In May of this year, he was detained and held at Dungavel, one day after his lawyer had obtained evidence from Egypt.
While delighted with the decision, Mikhaiel’s solicitor, Usman Aslam, believes that questions still need answering and said that his client should have been released as soon as he provided evidence of treatment in Egypt. Aslam believes that Mikhaiel’s case highlights the need for greater sensitivity to be shown by the Home Office to human rights issues.
Mikhaiel arrived in Scotland in 2016 on a student visa and graduated from Glasgow University with a degree in aeronautical engineering in 2019. Following his diagnosis, when he applied for leave to remain, his initial application was turned down for lack of evidence. The new decision, granting Mikhaiel leave to remain until 26 April 2026, has given him hope that he can plan his future, build a career, and have a family.
A Home Office spokesperson said that it would not comment on individual cases. All applications for leave to remain are considered carefully, according to the evidence offered and in accordance with immigration rules. The Home Office maintains that only those without legal right of stay in the UK are returned, and no one is sent back to countries where persecution or serious harm is likely
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