Partner allowed to stay in the country (From Gazette Series)

Partner allowed to stay in the country

THE gay partner of a Cam man is back home after spending almost a week in an asylum detention centre.

Last week the Gazette reported the anguish Howard Jeans-Seymour suffered as he battled to save his 22-year-old Algerian partner Izmer - not his real name - from deportation back to his native country.

Izmer is a Muslim and feared that if he were deported to his native country he would be jailed because of his sexuality.

For a week Izmer was held at Harmondsworth Immigration Service Removal Centre, near London's Heathrow Airport, while his application for asylum was fast tracked.

On Thursday Izmer was back in Cam after immigration officials decided he could stay in the country for a further six months. He will have to report to an immigration officer at Gloucester Police Station once a month and his position will be reviewed in May.

Mr Jeans-Seymour, 47, who has osteoporosis and is registered disabled, said he was delighted that Izmer had been allowed to stay but emphasised that asylum had not yet been granted.

"They haven't given us any decision yet," he said.

"His application is still under review and they are making us wait six months. Apparently it is standard procedure and he is on a form of probation. Hopefully we will know their decision in six months time.

"The most important thing is that he is home and we got him out of the detention centre.

"I am so chuffed to have him back. It has been a lot of stress, hard work and sleepless nights but it has been worth it in the end."

Despite being released to Mr Jeans-Seymour's home in the Woodfields area of Cam, Izmer will not be allowed to work and will be on Income Support benefit.

"Izmer is not permitted to take any employment, whether paid or not," Mr Jeans-Seymour explained.

Izmer worked at the One Stop Shop in Cam before he was held at the asylum centre.

"I think it is absolutely ludicrous that there is a young man who wants to work but they are stopping him," said Mr Jeans-Seymour.

The couple, who have been together for 11 months, had been hoping to register a civil partnership when it became law next month but have had to put their plans on hold.

Mr Jeans-Seymour told the Gazette: "I have enquired about it but because he hasn't got an official passport or visa we can't do anything for six months.

"We have got to wait until the decision before we can even think about it - we have got to put our lives on hold until then."