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An Afghanistan-born asylum seeker who lives in Derby and served alongside the British armed forces is facing deportation after his last-ditch attempt to stay in the UK was turned down.

Hafizzulah Husseinkhel’s asylum bid was originally rejected by the government in June. He attempted to overturn the decision by applying for a judicial review at London’s High Court, but this too has been refused.

The 26-year-old has been living in a shared four-bedroom flat in Brook Street for more than a year. He is now likely to have to go back to Austria – the first country he was registered in as an asylum seeker.

The Home Office said asylum seekers should claim asylum in the first safe country they arrive in.

Mr Husseinkhel, who served on the front line for the British Army between 2008 and 2012 as an interpreter between British and Afghan officers, will have to return to Austria if no other legal challenges can be lodged.

Steve Cooke, from Derby Refugee Solidarity, which has been supporting Mr Husseinkhel financially and legally through the process, says he plans to re-apply for asylum over the coming weeks.

Mr Cooke said: “Unfortunately the judicial review failed because we weren’t able to present sufficient evidence to back up his asylum application.

“We can get the evidence but it will take a lot of time and money, as well as the right legal advice, to put it together in the correct format. It’s a very complicated process, which has cost several thousands of pounds already. We know what kind of information the Government needs so hopefully we can re-apply and have a better outcome.”

He said he believes Mr Husseinkhel stands a 50% chance of his new application for asylum going through.

He added: “He should be allowed to stay in the UK considering he served in the Armed Forces, he speaks the language and has friends here.

“He tried to live in Austria for a year but they didn’t even begin to look at his asylum application in that time so that's why he came to the UK. He’s afraid he’ll be sent back to Afghanistan.”

Speaking to the Derby Telegraph in June, Mr Husseinkhel said he feels he should be able to claim asylum in Britain given the fact he helped “save the British people” while out in the battlefield.

“My fear is if I get deported back to Austria, they will then send me back to Afghanistan and I’ll be targeted because of my links to the British Army,” he said.

“I like being in Derby. I’ve been here for nearly a year and regard it as my home, I feel relaxed. It’s crucial for me to stay here for my future as I can go to college, continue my education and have medical appointments.

“It’s scary and worrying times for me – my future is not bright as it stands. The people in Afghanistan deem those who have worked for the British people to be evil and I won’t be able to go everywhere.”

After serving the army, Mr Husseinkhel fled Afghanistan in 2012 due to fears of being targeted. He managed to smuggle himself into several countries via public transport and arrived in Austria in 2014.

He claims he managed to get from France to the UK in January 2016 by hiding in the back of a lorry.

While in Derby, Mr Husseinkhel claims he has been living off a Government grant of £36 a week and has been studying languages at Derby College.

A Home Office spokesman said he could not comment on individual cases, but said the UK has a “proud history of providing protection to those who need it”.

Mr Husseinkhel originally was entitled to legal aid, but this has since ended and the legal battle has been funded by public donations and various organisations.

Mr Cooke appealed to the public for help by visiting Mr Husseinkhel's fundraising page - https://www.change.org/p/amber-rudd-mp-abandoned-and-betrayed - where his name has been altered for safety reasons.