Family fears for Syrian asylum-seeker facing Rwanda flight

Aasem’s brothers Mohammed and Auqla, both UK citizens, say he thought he had found a safe haven living with them in Glasgow.

But Auqla says Aasem’s detention last month bought those fears for his life back to the surface.

“My brother was attending a normal Home Office appointment. That day, they told him the internet isn’t working, maybe the machine is broken, and to wait here until he’s fixed. He sat down to wait,” he said.

“After five minutes, eight police officers came and took his phone. They handcuffed him, put him in a van and took him to England without explanation. Nobody told him anything.

“He’s very frightened, very scared, he doesn’t know why they’re treating him like this. And now he’s being detained in a prison with people he doesn’t know.

“He’s losing weight because he’s not eating well and sleeping well. When I went to see him his skin condition was aggravated because he doesn’t have medication.

“He’s the youngest brother and all the family are very worried about him.

“If this country can let him stay here with our family, this is what we hope. Because this is a safe country.”

Mohammed says he fears if Aasem is ordered out of the UK, the Syrian government will catch him and torture him again because he left.

“What is the criteria to be detained under this scheme? He’s a victim of torture. Some people came the same way and after him and they’ve been granted leave to remain,” he said.