British Minister Slams 'Inhumane' Deportation of Lebanese Man with Down’s Syndrome

Britain's Business Secretary Vince Cable has described the proposed deportation of a Lebanese man with Down’s syndrome as “fundamentally inhumane.”

Wadih Chourey, 44, has lived in south-west London for the past 17 years after seeking refuge from abuse in his home country. But both his parents have since died and his brother Camil, 52, said he would be unable to care for himself in Lebanon.

According to the Home Office, Chourey did not meet the requirements for remaining in the UK.

The Guardian daily quoted a spokesperson as saying that “all applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with the immigration rules. Mr. Chourey failed to meet the necessary requirements. The decision to refuse his application has been backed up by the courts.”

But Cable, who is a lawmaker, said the decision to pursue the case was perplexing.

“There are large numbers of cases of abuse of the immigration rule and I think the public expects the government and the Home Office to get to grips with them,” he told the BBC.

“But not cases like this. It’s a terrible waste of their resources and it’s fundamentally inhumane, and I think it illustrates how the immigration system often fails.”

More than 70,000 people have signed an online petition calling on Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May to block the attempted deportation, said The Guardian.

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