UPDATE: Home Office letting down Highland nurse trapped in Turkey with young son, says Inverness MP Drew Hendry in call for urgent intervention
Inverness MP Drew Hendry is calling for urgent intervention to get a nurse and his young son back home to the Highlands.
Father-of-three Ali Abunejmeh and his eight-year-old son, Sebastien, of Nairn, were on holiday visiting family in Jordan and the West Bank.
They were due to fly back to the UK via Antalya Airport in Turkey on August 5 but were not allowed on the flight due to a wrangle over proof of evidence of UK residency.
Nurse trapped in Turkey with young son
Mr Hendry has taken up the case of Mr Abunejmeh who said he has spent £2000 on food and accommodation and missed shifts at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness since being unable to get home.
"The Home Office is continuing to let Mr Abunejmeh down, and this whole sordid situation is completely unacceptable," Mr Hendry said.
"My team and I are desperately trying to move this forward, but the department has ground to a halt.
"It’s clear that this case urgently needs an intervention from the Minister, and I will raise this as soon as possible in Parliament.
"In the meantime, we will continue to do everything we can to help Mr Abunejmeh return home safe to the Highlands."
Mr Abunejmeh, who was born in Jordan, has lived in the UK for 15 years and has settled status.
Although his residence card was out of date, he said he was advised by the Home Office before travelling that he would be able to prove his settlement status via its app.
But Turkish Airlines had not allowed him to board the flight.
A Home Office spokesman said: "Any non-EEA nationals granted settled status must carry their Biometric Residence Card when travelling abroad and this should be in date.
"We will be in touch with Mr. Abunejmeh."
Turkish Airlines said it was looking into the matter.
