Nurse and son stuck in Turkey due to wrangle over evidence of UK residency reunited with family in Nairn after month-long 'stressful situation'
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A nurse trapped with his young son in Turkey for a month due to a bureaucratic wrangle has spoken of his relief at finally getting back home to Nairn.
Ali Abunejmeh and his eight-year-old son, Sebastien, were on holiday visiting family in Jordan and the West Bank and had been due to fly back to the UK via Antalya Airport in Turkey on August 5
But Mr Abunejmeh was prevented from boarding the flight due to a wrangle over proof of evidence of UK residency. He and his son finally got back home last Wednesday and were reunited with his wife, Jana, and his two other children who had not made the trip.
Family of nurse hope situation will be resolved soon
“I am so glad and happy to be back home with my wife and kids,” said Mr Abunejmeh, a bank nurse at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness.
“It was really stressful.”
Originally from Jordan T, he has lived in the UK for 15 years and has settled status.
His wife is a Czech national and their three children have British passports.
He said he spoke to someone at the Home Office before travelling as his residence card was out of date and had been told that he could prove settlement status using an app.
“I am professional person,” he said. “I would not risk anything travelling with my son without the right documents.”
But difficulties arose when Turkish Airlines prevented him from boarding the flight to come home although he tried to explain he could prove settled status.
Mr Abunejmeh said there was no help forthcoming from the airline and he also had difficulties trying to contact the Home Office and so it was left to him to try to resolve the situation.
“I didn’t know anyone there,” he said. “I was extremely shocked by this.
“It was really stressful. I tried to get in touch with the Home Office. It was hard being in that situation, not knowing what to do.
“I was not able to get a quick answer.”
Mr Abunejmeh, who had not been prepared to be in such a situation, estimated he ended up spending an unexpected £3000 on hotels, food and travel.
He had to borrow money from family and friends and had to change hotels three times before he finally got the necessary documents enabling him to travel.
“It took one month and one day,” he said. “It was a terrible situation.”
His son Sebastien was upset by the enforced stay.
“He was upset every day and cried, saying he missed his brother and sister,” he said.
“I had to keep him busy.”
Mr Abunejmeh believed the help of Inverness MP Drew Hendry and his team had made a difference after his wife contacted his office.
“I don’t know what progress I would have made without him,” he said.
“Without him, I would not have known what to do.”
He said he found it difficult to obtain timescales from the Home Office regarding progress on his application and after his story attracted publicity he had also been contacted by a South African woman in a similar situation.
“I am not the only one,” he said.
He felt there was a lack of support from the Home Office and the airline.
“I am a nurse,” he said. “I look after people and give 100 per cent patients – they should give service rather than leaving people helpless.”
