Man with British wife told to move to Turkey despite facing imprisonment
Galip, 26, and Amber, 33, said they felt 'mentally and physically drained' after being informed by the Home Office they should move to Turkey on the basis the disruption this would cause them was 'proportionate to the legitimate aim of maintaining effective immigration control'.
Galip faces being imprisoned for at least six months if he returns to his home country because he did not carry out obligatory military service due to being in the UK when he reached the age of 20.
The Turkish national came to the UK on a student visa in 2006 and the pair met a year later while he was attending English classes in Norwich.
They married in December 2015 at which point Galip applied for a spouse visa, but the Home Office rejected his application on the grounds that he would be exempt from punishment in Turkey because he had been living abroad.
But the 26-year-old said he was unable to exempt himself from imprisonment because he could not prove he had been employed in Britain for three consecutive years, as his immigration status prevented him from working.
In a letter to Galip, the Home Office wrote that the refusal was also made on the grounds that he had worked without permission after his request for an extension on his student visa was refused.
Galip said: 'If I return to Turkey now they will detain me at the airport, and I'll face six months in prison, and after that I will still have to go and do 12 months of military service. I will be separated from my wife.
'For the last few years we've not been able to do anything with our life because we're so scared. We can't even travel in England. Our life is on hold, it's like being in an open prison.
'We are mentally and physically drained. Some nights I can't sleep because I'm worrying so much.'
In the refusal letter the Home Office acknowledged the 'change in culture' may make integrating into society in Turkey difficult for his wife, but that 'a significant degree of hardship does not amount to an insurmountable obstacles'.
It continued: 'Should your spouse return to Turkey with you it is acknowledged that this would involve degree of disruptions to the family and private life you have formed together in the UK. However, this is considered to be proportionate to the legitimate aim of maintaining effective immigration control.'
On employment prospects, the Home Office said: 'Whilst your spouse is in employment in the UK it is considered that she could seek employment in Turkey or alternatively be supported by you.'
The couple said they had spent just shy of £10,000 trying to secure their right to remain together in Britain, including Home Office application costs and solicitor fees.
Amber, a legal assistant for a law firm, who has lived in Britain all her life, said she felt she was being forced to choose between her husband and remaining in her job and staying close to her elderly parents.
'They said there's no reason for us not to live in Turkey. I've got a full-time job here, I've been working since I was 18, I'm now 33. All my life has been in England, and they're now saying that I can uproot and go and live there,' she added.
Responding to the situation, Mary Atkinson, the families together campaign officer at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), said: 'The Home Office is effectively asking Amber to choose between her husband and her parents, a choice nobody should have to make.
'We should be appalled that our government is seemingly happy to exile its own citizens if they happen to fall in love with somebody from the 'wrong' side of a national border.
'People will always travel, meet each other, fall in love and dream of a future together – the sooner we have a system that acknowledges that, the better.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
22 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Minute's silence held at Croke Park for mother and children killed in Maguiresbridge
Vanessa Whyte and her two teenage children were honoured with a minute's silence at Croke Park on Sunday, just moments before throw-in at the All Ireland senior football final between the Donegal and Kerry men's teams. Ms Whyte (45), her son James (14) and daughter Sara (13) died following a fatal shooting at her Maguiresbridge home in Co Fermanagh earlier this week. Emergency services were called to the address via a 999 call from within the house, shortly before 8.30am on Wednesday morning. Ms Whyte, who was recently promoted to a senior veterinary role within the Department of Agriculture, was pronounced dead at the scene alongside Sara. James later passed away from his injuries at South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. The PSNI confirmed their lines of investigation include a suspected triple homicide and attempted suicide. Maguiresbridge vigil takes place as book of condolence opens at young shooting victims' former school Ian Rutledge – father to the teenagers and husband to Ms Whyte – is believed to have suffered self-inflicted gunshot wounds and is currently in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. He is the main suspect in the killings. On Sunday afternoon, just before the Irish national anthem, Amhrán na bhFiann, was played at Croke Park, an image of Ms Whyte, Sara and James was displayed on the stadium's main large screen, and the crowd led a minute's silence tribute for the three family members, who were dedicated players and fans of the GAA. Text on the screen at Croke Park read: 'Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha' – which translates from Irish into English as: 'May their souls be seated on God's right hand.' All three were 'beloved and active' members of St Mary's Maguiresbridge Gaelic Football Club and Lisbellaw Hurling Club. The hurling club said that Ms Whyte was 'first and foremost a devoted mum to James and Sara and they were the centre of her world'. A spokesperson added: 'James came to us at four years old, miles ahead of his peers in his ability and skill. He was a quiet, cheeky lovable rogue and at the same time a leader for his teammates as their captain a number of times over the years. He came up through the ranks with a small group of very close friends who forged a bond that will be forever remembered. 'Sara followed up a year later and even when she was the only girl on the team this didn't phase her, she could hurl with any of them. She was quiet but by no means a pushover and could stand up for herself on the pitch. She was gutted when the rules meant she couldn't continue to hurl after under 12 and there was no camogie for her to play. "Even after finishing playing, she was the boy's main supporter at every game, pucking the ball alongside them. Every function or event we held she was always Mam's right hand woman ready to run here and there as needed. We will all miss her quiet presence and lovely smile.' Meanwhile, a separate tribute from St Mary's GFC reads: 'Vanessa's devotion to her family and our games was well known, but to say she wore her heart on her sleeve seems like an understatement in Vanessa's case. Vanessa's heart was there for everyone to see each and every time James and Sara would take to the pitch. She had a passion for our games that encompassed everything good about the GAA showing dedication, sportsmanship, and camaraderie, and it was clear to see how Vanessa instilled these same values in her children. 'Captain of our U14 team this year, James' energy and drive was the heartbeat of our team and he had the confidence to be vocal and show leadership to younger team members. "During games his enthusiasm and strength of character was only echoed by that of Vanessa and Sara who would inevitably be cheering him on from the sideline. At training, those of us lucky enough to be involved would see James the joker. "His playfulness and sense of humour may have earned his teammates more push-ups than they would've like on occasion, but his light-hearted nature and kindness always enhanced team morale and made our time together all the more enjoyable and memorable. 'A part of our ladies club, Sara displayed a mix of quiet resolve with dogged determination. An exceptionally well behaved girl, Sara was a joy to be around and always had a smile on her face. Like Vanessa and James, Sara shared a love of all things GAA and their beloved County Clare, a regular source of playful goading, which we will now forever miss. 'Our club has lost 3 treasured members, and our community has lost 3 great personalities. It will take time to come to terms with this loss and our thoughts and prayers are with all those whose lives they have touched.' Ms Whyte was originally from Co Clare, and was an avid fan of its inter-county hurling team also. A prayer service will take place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Ms Whyte's home village of Barefield tonight at 7pm.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Major pledge on Britain being 'ready to fight' in face of China threats
Defence Secretary John Healey was challenged over threats to Taiwan as he visited HMS Prince of Wales, which is docked in Australia as part of a rare Indo-Pacific deployment Britain is ready to fight in the face of escalation from China, the Defence Secretary has said. John Healey was challenged over threats to Taiwan as he visited the British aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, which is docked in Australia as part of a rare Indo-Pacific deployment. Asked about what the UK is doing to support countries like Taiwan amid potential escalation from China, Mr Healey told The Telegraph: 'If we have to fight, as we have done in the past, Australia and the UK are nations that will fight together. 'We exercise together and by exercising together and being more ready to fight, we deter better together.' But the Cabinet minister insisted he would rather see any disputes in the Indo-Pacific resolved 'peacefully' and 'diplomatically', clarifying that he was speaking about preparation to fight in 'general terms'. Mr Healey was joined by Richard Marles, Australia's deputy prime minister, on HMS Prince of Wales, as the ship docked in Darwin to take part in war games with allies, including the US. The British aircraft carrier, which is roughly the size of three football pitches, is on an eight-month deployment, known as Operation Highmast. In April, Keir Starmer met the crew onboard HMS Prince of Wales during an overnight stay ahead of their voyage. The PM said the mission showed the UK's "leadership on global issues and security and defence". "We all know that the world is more uncertain than it felt a few months or years before - we're in a new era," Mr Starmer said at the time. "We are sending a clear message of strength to our adversaries, and a message of unity and purpose to our allies." Tensions in the Indo-pacific region have been increasing for some time, with fears mounting that China will invade Taiwan, a self-governing island. China's leader Xi Jinping has eyed forcibly incorporating Taiwan into the country. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth warned in May of China posing an "imminent" threat to Taiwan during a high-level Asia defence summit. In the UK's Strategic Defence Review, published in June, it said: "China is increasingly leveraging its economic , technological and military capabilities.. This includes: a vast increase in advanced platforms and weapons systems such as space warfare capabilities, an unprecedented diversification and growth of its conventional and nuclear missile forces with missiles that can reach the UK and Europe.' And on the China threat the SDR warns of: 'More types and greater numbers of nuclear weapons than ever before with its arsenal expected to double to 1,000 nuclear warheads by 2030.'
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Girl, 3, found dead on popular Greece tourist beach by horrified passer-by
A young girl was found dead on a beach near the Greek capital of Athens early on Sunday - and authorities are now carrying out investigations to determine what happened to her A little girl has been found dead on a popular beach in Greece by a horrified passer-by. The child, believed to be around two or three years old, was spotted on Eden Beach in Paleo Faliro, near Athens, in the early hours of Sunday. Reports say a man, from Egypt, spotted the girl's body on the shore and called the emergency services. Authorities rushed to the scene, where they located the child, who hasn't been identified so far. Her body was transported to the Agia Sofia Children's Hospital via ambulance, where doctors pronounced her dead. An autopsy will be carried out to determine the girl's cause of death, authorities have said. Greek newspaper Protothema reported that the child was wearing a full-zip bathing suit and was not wearing armbands when she was found. The publication added that there were no obvious signs of abuse on the girl. No child matching her characteristics has been reported missing in the area. Investigations are ongoing to determine the girl's identity and the circumstances of her death. Last week, a British tourist was tragically found dead on his sun lounger on a popular Greek beach after reportedly becoming unwell. The 74-year-old was discovered unconscious on Stalis Beach on the isle of Crete by other people at the resort at around 12pm on Sunday, July 20. Emergency services rushed to the scene and made a desperate bid to revive the man, but unfortunately their efforts proved unsuccessful. It is understood that he had first gone for a swim before returning to the sun lounger and there are reports he had a "strong feeling" of sickness shortly before his death. Paramedics from Hellenic National Center of Emergency Care (EKAB) treated the man at the scene and no cause of death has yet been given by the Greek authorities. An autopsy was due to be carried out, reported It comes after several tragic beach deaths over the last few months involving British citizens on holiday. A 73-year-old man was found dead on a beach in Agia Paraskevi, Skiathos, in Greece. And a 68-year-old lost his life after going swimming and losing consciousness on June 12.
