Angolan Pastor Wins Right to Challenge Deportation

|TOP|An Angolan pastor and his family, currently living in Glasgow, have won the right to appeal against the decision by the Home Office to deport them, reports the Scottish Herald.

The Dalys have been living in the UK since 2000, after the father, Pastor Makielokele Nzelengi Daly, was asked to spy on his congregation by Angolan state police during the civil war.

The family’s case has risen to national prominence in Scotland because of Pastor Daly’s contribution to Scottish society since coming to the country.

Demonstrators took to the streets to demonstrate following their detention in January in Lanarkshire following the refusal of their application for asylum.

|QUOTE|The family were once again detained on Saturday at the immigration office in Glasgow before being taken to Yarl’s Wood detention centre, pending deportation on Friday.

However, Margaret Woods, of the Glasgow Campaign to Welcome Refugees, said: “The Dalys have been granted first orders, which is the start of a hearing towards another judicial review. We hope they will now get bail. They should never have been detained anyway.”

She added: “There was a demonstration planned for this week, but that might be called off if the Dalys are allowed home.”

Speaking from Yarl’s Wood on Monday, eldest daughter of Pastor Daly, 16-year-old Rachel said: “We feel we were tricked, we come to sign as usual at Brand Street, and then they take us away in caged vans to London.

“My father helped our communities in Red road Court to come together. Why does Scotland do this to my father and my family?”

Sandra White of the Scottish National Party said: “I am totally flabbergasted and shocked and the family have my full support to stay in the UK.”