Egyptian migrant who lives in Telford 'faces return to domestic violence' if deported

Mohamed Abelfattan Abdelamim Aly, of Hollinswood, gave the warning at a Birmingham Immigration and Asylum Tribunal as he appealed against a Home Office decision to send him back to Egypt because his visa had expired.

The Home Office challenged Mr Aly's evidence about domestic violence he faced at home because an official told the tribunal she understood a certificate was in circulation confirming that he and his wife were divorced.

But the Home Office official said she did not not have a crucial document about Mr Aly's background and his matrimonial status available at the hearing.

"The document should have been delivered in time for the hearing and we understand it is still in transit," she said. "We apologise for the inconvenience caused but we would like the hearing adjourned so the document can be used as evidence at a later hearing."

Mr Aly denied, through an interpreter, that he was divorced and said he would be a victim of domestic violence if sent home.

He appealed to tribunal judge Miss Dhaliwal to reject the Home Office decision.

He admitted, however, that he has a girlfriend in Telford and wants to stay with her.

Mr Aly, 29, said that apart from the domestic violence, he would also face political and religious community upheaval in his native country.

Mr John Vokes, representing Mr Aly, said there had been a failure by the Home Office to produce the document considering they had been in possession of it since April this year.

He warned of the costs involved in adjourning the case because of the Home Office's failure and said Mr Aly was not divorced.

Miss Dhaliwal criticised the Home Office for not having the document in time "in view of the uncertainty about whether or not Mr Aly was divorced".

She added: "This document must be produced as evidence about Mr Aly's domestic violence claim and his marriage status and I must, in the interests of justice, adjourn the hearing to a later date. The Home Office and myself apologise for what has happened.

"I put the full blame on the Home Office, however. More should have been done by them to make sure this document arrived in time."

Mr Aly was advised not to speak following the tribunal and a date will be fixed for the next hearing.