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 Zarine Rentia, centre, with headteacher Rosemary Leeke, teacher Celia Weeden and pupils at South Camden Community School |
PLEASE DON'T SEND ME BACK
15-year-old girl fighting crippling disease faces deportation
A TEENAGER fighting a crippling one-in-a-million genetic disease to become a star pupil has been left in turmoil by a Home Office decision to deport her to India.
Teachers and friends of popular Zarine Rentia, 15, have pledged their support as she battles to stay in the country.
If she is sent back Zarine will have to leave her friends and GCSE studies at South Camden Community School in Chalton Street and, most importantly, crucial medical help.
An appeal will be lodged by Zarine and her mother Tasnim by the end of the week with an Asylum and Immigration Tribunal hearing set to take place on December 13.
If the appeal fails they will both be placed in a detention centre and sent back to India around Christmas time.
Despite suffering from Fanconi Bickel Syndrome (FBS), an ultra-rare condition that renders bones too brittle to support the body’s weight and causes permanent liver and kidney damage, Zarine is a member of the school council, the table tennis club and is a keen student, even advising school staff on disability duty training.
Her condition was only diagnosed on her arrival in England on a visitor’s visa in 2004. It was at the end of her six-month stay that the mystery of her illness – which had baffled medics in India – was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
It was after Zarine (pictured) who lives with her mother in Hackney, was diagnosed that she appealed to stay and began school at South Camden.
She said: “I didn’t know the meaning of life, freedom or independence in India. I couldn’t walk, I had no friends, no school, nothing. My mum had to carry me in her arms till I was 12 years old. My mother and father took me to six different schools in India but no school was ready to give me admission or to take responsibility for a disabled child. I am physically disabled, not mentally.”
In a letter to the Children’s Commissioner, Zarine wrote: “This country has given me my missed childhood back. I have to give back my contribution to this country for giving me such a good and enjoyable life.”
Mrs Rentia has applied several times for permanent residence without success and now the Home Office has ordered them to go.
Zarine (pictured) goes for Great Ormond Street Hospital check-ups every six months and must take daily calcium supplements and special medication. But a letter from the Border and Immigration Agency sent to Mrs Rentia reads: “Consideration has been given to the different standards of medical facilities in countries compared with their availability here. Whereas it is accepted that the healthcare system in the UK and in India are unlikely to be equivalent, that doesn’t entitle you to remain here.”
Mrs Rentia said: “We’ve been to every doctor in India for nine years and not a single one knew what this disease was. The Home Office says you can get treatment for cardiology, neurology and all sorts of diseases in India so we can’t stay here, but my child doesn’t have any of those diseases. This is a totally exceptional case – the Home Office must use their discretion and show compassion.”
She added: “Ninety-eight per cent of disabled children do not go to school in India. You can’t travel on the bus or train. If she goes back how would she survive? How would she enjoy her life?”
Rosemary Leeke, headteacher at South Camden, said: “Zarine is an exceptional young woman. We’re going to support her however we can.”
Gerry Robinson, one of Zarine’s teachers, described her as “a remarkable student, extremely conscientious and hard-working”.
She added: “Zarine’s just one of those students who has loads of friends and gets involved with everything. It would be a huge loss to the school.
“I would appeal to them to reconsider their decision.”
Her friend Farhana Chowdhury, 15, said: “Zarine is a good example to other students. Despite what’s going on in her life she always has a smile on her face. We will really miss her if she is sent back to India.”
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “All applications for further leave to remain are thoroughly considered on a case-by-case basis taking into account any compassionate circumstances where appropriate.
“Where a person has been refused further leave to remain, there is a full right of appeal against the decision to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal. An immigration judge will fully consider all aspects of the case.” |
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THE POOR GIRL ZARINE DESERVES FULL SYMPATHY OF EVERYONE. AS SHE IS
GETTING GOOD CARE AND HELP IN UK FROM ALL THE HELPFUL BRITISH PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT, SHE SHOULD NOT BE DEPORTED TO INDIA.
MOHAMMAD S. FAROOQI |
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