Young Iranian fighting deportation is diagnosed with autism

Javad Ebrahimi arrived in the UK as a child nine years ago, following the death of his parents in the Bam earthquake in 2003.

He was put in an orphanage in Tehran where he was forced to learn how to use guns and subjected to extreme religious teaching before fleeing to the UK.

He arrived in Hastings in 2013 and was taken in by tutor Terry Alexander 18 months ago.

Javad, who has learning difficulties, mental health problems, post traumatic stress disorder, poor memory and struggles to communicate, had his most recent request for asylum turned down earlier this year.

Terry is concerned that a return to Iran will have a devastating effect on Javad.

She said: “Being autistic and having a mild learning difficulty makes the difficulties Javad faces so much greater than your average earthquake orphan.”

Terry added: “His poor memory and lack of interpreting a question correctly mean that different wording can produce what seems a completely different answer.

“He has a total lack of understanding about how he can or could do anything to fight his case.

“And he has a fixation on particular subjects, common to autistic people.

“He fixated on coming to England so has no concept of why he would have wanted to try and claim asylum in any of the countries he passed through to get here.”

Terry fears the lack of family support and the lack of extra help Javad needs to learn basic skills and education will also have a negative impact on the vulnerable 23-year-old.

People living with autism need routine and Terry says Javad would find any change in his routine ‘terrifying’.

There are fears if Javad returns to Iran, he will be forced into national service with the Iranian army.

Terry is looking into the possibility of a fresh appeal to allow Javad to stay in the UK.

Javad’s supporters are asking the The Home Office to reconsider its decision to deport him.

To sign the petition visit: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/petition-the-home-office-to-reconsider-javad-s-deportation-decision-now.

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