Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 13:00:54 +0100 From: Mark Watson Subject: Deport case won Stonewall Press Release Tuesday 6 August 1996 Same-sex couple win deportation appeal! A 38 year old Moroccan man who has lived with his British partner for over ten years has won his appeal against a decision by the Home Office to deport him. The Home Office had refused to accept that the existence of a ten year gay relationship with a British citizen were grounds for allowing the man to stay in the United Kingdom and insisted that deportation was the only course of action. However the Immigration Appeals Adjudicator concluded that: 'I do find the that the appellant and his partner have had a stable homosexual relationship since the since shortly after they met in 1983. I am satisfied that they could not continue this relationship if the appellant were deported to Morocco and I am satisfied that there are compassionate grounds within the provisions of paragraph 164 of HC251 [the Rules] so that although deportation will normally be the proper course... in this case, having taken into account all the relevant factors, I consider that the appeal should be allowed.' The adjudicator also indicated that to deport the man could have been in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Home Office have not appealed the decision. The couple were unaware that they could apply to the Home Office based on their relationship until they heard of the Stonewall Immigration Group in September 1994. Mark Watson, Chair of the Stonewall Immigration Group stated: 'We are extremely pleased with the adjudicator's decision - but saddened that the Home Office tried to deport him in the first place - deportation is rarely initiated against heterosexual's who have had a two year relationship or more at time of enforcement action. However this makes the 16th case we have won and we have yet to lose a case. I am optimistic about the future and believe our case is so compelling that it is now only a matter of time before the policy is changed in our favour.' ENDS For more information please call Mark Watson on 0171 336 8860 or their solicitor, Matthew Davies on 0181 808 7535 Mark Watson Stonewall 16 Clerkenwell Close London EC1R 0AA Tel. 0171 336 8860 Fax. 0171 336 8864 mark@stonewall.org.uk http://www.tyger.co.uk/sig/