When Tahira Masood was 14 years old, a male relative bought a fake identity card stating she was four years older. That way he could marry her. When she was later expecting a child, she fled Pakistan to try to get a better future in Sweden for herself and her unborn child.
But the man’s actions can now destroy that dream.
Tahira Masood had her asylum application rejected twice, after which she applied for a so-called change of track to get a work permit. Then she herself stated to the Swedish Migration Agency that the identity card was forged. This led to the authority saying that she was unable to verify her identity.
“Gällivare is my daughter’s world”
Three weeks ago, the decision came for Tahira and the now 12-year-old daughter Duaa. They are to be deported to Pakistan.
Their only hope is the appeal for deportation of the daughter. In the appeal, they point out that the daughter has never been to Pakistan and that she does not know the language.
– She has no connection to Pakistan, only to Gällivare. Gällivare is my daughter’s world, says Tahira Masood.
The mother is also afraid that her daughter will meet the same fate as she did as a 14-year-old.
– I am so afraid that they might marry off my girl too, says Tahira Masood.
“We must listen to the child”
The legal process regarding Tahira and Duaa’s future is still ongoing and the Swedish Migration Agency does not comment on the specific case.
The authority, however, replies that there are generally narrow frameworks for what can be seen as “extremely painful circumstances”, and that it is regrettable when children are affected by decisions aimed at the parents.
– The Swedish Migration Agency weighs in and takes into account the circumstances of the individual case and if children are involved, we have an obligation to consider the child’s best interests, based on the guidelines provided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and others. However, the convention does not automatically give children or parents the right to stay in Sweden, but we must listen to the child, says Frederik Abbemo who is a press communicator at the Swedish Migration Agency.