“I
don’t know how anyone could expect me to be separated from my baby’s daddy.
My son deserves the best in life I can give him ... I hope I can give him his
daddy as his first ever Christmas present.”
British
citizen Emma is 24 years old, with a beautiful son with her husband Driss, a
Moroccan citizen. Emma met Driss while
working as a store manager in the international departures terminal at
Eurostar. Emma signed up to a language course to improve her French, which is where
she met Driss.
Driss
helped Emma with French and she helped him with English. Over time, they became
friends and a year later, fell in love in Marrakech. Driss makes Emma feel
secure and she recalls the night she realised she was in love with him,
“ ..the night I fell in love was the world cup final. We were in a
restaurant watching the match, when I fell ill. Driss took me home, staying
with me until the pain passed. I knew then that any man who loves football yet
would give up the final for me is special."
They
met regularly after that and finally, on Valentine's Day 2011, Driss proposed.
In July 2011, Emma moved to Morocco and got
married, with her family attending their wedding; they moved into a traditional
house, without electricity or running water, sharing it with Driss’s family.
Not speaking Arabic, Emma found it difficult to adjust. Driss bought Emma a
puppy so she’d have some company while he was at work.
Emma
missed her family and returned home in January to visit her mum, and found out
she was pregnant. Emma was advised against travel by the doctor during
pregnancy because of the risk to her and her unborn baby’s health for various
reasons (including the conditions in Morocco and Emma’s medical history).
Emma
accepted the medical advice and remained in the UK, trying to find a job so
Driss could join them. However, she discovered that jobs were few and far
between for a pregnant woman, especially in roles for which she had experience,
i.e. store management positions. The pregnancy started to affect her health and
Emma, terrified at the prospect of having the baby without her husband, had
Driss come over for the birth.
A few weeks later, they were blessed with a beautiful
son, Aymane Ben. As any parent will confirm, on holding her son, Emma knew
she’d give her life for her son in order to offer him the best upbringing she
could. How could she raise her first baby in an environment she wasn’t happy in
– wasn’t it her responsibility as a parent to give the baby the best of
everything she could, to protect him?
Emma
isn’t sure she can quickly leave her baby to find a job paying £18,600 – at a
time when a baby needs his mum all the time. Realistically therefore, this
family is looking at a separation of at least 12 months; in his first year,
baby Aymane is forced to be part of a single parent family because of this
government.
Weight
gain during pregnancy put a lot of pressure on Emma’s legs; now, she can’t
climb the stairs of her property without a helper and is dependent on him. Emma
has also seen mental health workers who believe splitting up this family puts
Emma at grave risk of post-natal
depression.
Emma
and Driss are applying for compassionate leave to remain, for Driss to be here
with the family. The solicitor they have hired believes they will be refused,
despite the family staying together being what is in the best interest of the
child and Emma’s health.
Update: Emma and Driss did defeat
Theresa May in court. They are now
happily living in the UK and Aymane is now big brother to Sami. The family is grateful for all the support
and continue to be active in the fight against UK’s immigration rules forcing
British citizens out of their own country.
