A family of devout Pakistani Christians, have been struggling for almost 7 years to secure Refugee Status or Humanitarian Protection in the UK, based on facing targeted persecution and hostility, and having a fatwa against the mother Nasreen, a school teacher whilst they were in Pakistan. The children are two boys (ZR), aged 17, and (ZK) aged 12, and a British born female toddler with developmental difficulties aged 3 (MR).

Nasreen, who has been diagnosed with PTSD and post-partum depression, worked as a teacher in a Muslim school in Pakistan. During one school lunch break, Nasreen urged the Christian students to pray in accordance to the Christian religion, and the Muslim pupils to pray in the Muslim tradition. Another teacher complained to the headmistress against Nasreen's anti-Islamic behaviour and she was thrown out of school, and attacked and burnt with a cigarette by a group of men outside of  the school. Following another attack, and the fatwa, Nasreen and her children were forced to move to another region of Pakistan. Nasreen telephoned the previous school to obtain the children’s certificates required for enrolment to their new school. She believes that the school must have disclosed her address to the group, as several men came to the locale looking for her. She was charged with blasphemy and a First Information Report registered against her with the police. 

The family came to the UK in November 2014 pursuant to a previous grant of visit visa, and claimed asylum on 16 December 2014. The application was based on religious persecution and the Pakistani authorities unwillingness to protect them, but they were refused, and  appealed unsuccessfully in 2015-6. 

Fortunately, the children of the family have been able to progress in their education, integrate, and be able to practise their faith openly and  without fear of discrimination. The family participate in many churches in their locality, and are able to express their true feelings towards their faith without being discriminated against. This was not the case in Pakistan, where like religious minorities of all types, they were  subjected to discrimination, harassment (including bullying at school), and punished for expressing their faith in public, and even at school.

The family submitted a fresh claim with expert medical and child-risk evidence in early 2020,  raising funds to do so from a Crowd Justice campaign. The Home Secretary has however  recently refused the fresh claim without careful scrutiny of the various expert Reports, but given the family an in country Right of Appeal. 

The family, with their legal team, are  appealing and seek your help to prepare for the appeal with updating country and medical evidence, as well as the increased risks created by the mother's fragile mental health, parenting concerns  and even the pandemic.
This family needs your financial help to appeal against the unfair and unjust decision made on their case which neglects the expert assessments of risk.