A Glasgow woman who feared for her life if she was sent back to Afghanistan - after the Home Office refused to renew her visa - can breathe a sigh of relief as the government has made a U-turn on their decision.
Maryam Amiri, an advocate for women's rights and a strong opposer of the Taliban, was at risk of being sent back to her home country - which she left for the UK seven years ago.
She arrived on a spousal visa and is married to a man who worked for the British forces.
Maryam was in doubt whether she'd be able to start her university course this September but her future is looking brighter after the government withdrew the refusal to extend her visa.
MP for Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss had been battling with the Home Office to keep Maryam in Scotland and a petition was also launched by her friends.
Alison said: "I’m very relieved to hear that the Home Office have withdrawn the refusal of Maryam's visa extension - it was an appalling decision. I hope that she will now have more certainty that her future is safe.
"That said, I still have serious concerns about a Home Office decision making process that ever thought it appropriate to send a woman educator and activist back to Taliban-run Afghanistan.
"I hope that the processes which led to this dangerous refusal being issued will be reviewed, and that no other Afghans face a similar situation to Maryam Amiri."
A Home Office spokesperson said: "All visa applications are decided on individual merits.
"We don't routinely comment on individual cases."
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