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| John Stokes and Samet Mata |
The news has been echoed in foreign media and it is about the young man Samet Mata, who has applied for asylum in the UK but has been turned down by the Immigration Office. Immediately after the ruling, thousands of citizens in Bristol have filed a petition against the government demanding for the Albanian to not be deported.
It is reported that there are 11,000 British citizens who have signed the petition, among them is also the famous actor Joe Sims who has joined the campaign. "He deserves to realize his dream, to stay here to become a carpenter," Sims said.
Samet Mata, who went illegally into the UK in the back of a truck, is now threatened with deportation just weeks after his 18th birthday. Samet's life in Albania was difficult. He was forced to begging on the streets until he was 11 years old, and at the age of 15 joined his father in Brussels, a drug dealer, and trafficker.
He managed to escape from his father's clutches in Belgium and enjoyed freedom for the first time after arriving by truck in Bristol, nearly three years ago. After spending six months in a children's shelter, he was sent to live with John Stokes, a trusted local carer who, for nearly 30 years, has supported nearly 80 children with violence and abuse problems.