A father of two brothers is begging Ministers to allow his sons to return to Somalia after they were both stabbed in separate attacks in London.
Former Labour leadership hopeful Chuka Umunna said his constituent ‘massively regrets’ moving his sons to London and believes it would be less dangerous for them to live in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
One of the brothers is living in foster care for ‘his own safety’ while the other cannot leave hospital as it is judged ‘too unsafe’ from him to live at home, Mr Umunna said.
The MP for Streatham, in south London, insisted the case is a ‘damning indictment’ of the violence on the capital’s streets.
Mr Umunna told the Commons he has written to ministers asking them to issue the appropriate papers to ensure the two brothers can travel back to Somalia to be with their mother – in line with the family’s wishes.
He raised the case during an adjournment debate addressing the issue of gangs and serious youth violence in London.
Mr Umunna said his constituent’s youngest son was stabbed on the Tulse Hill estate.
He added: ‘In recent weeks, his brother was stabbed on another estate in Streatham, was critically injured, taken to hospital and now cannot leave hospital because it has been deemed too unsafe for him to return home.
‘Both those sons are victims of serious youth and gang violence that continues to grip parts of my community.
‘This constituent had come to the UK with his sons from Somalia, a country ravaged by lawlessness, extreme violence and civil war because he wanted a better future for his children and for them to be safe.
‘He is completely bewildered by what has happened and when I asked him whether he felt his sons would be safer in Mogadishu than in London, he told me it would be less dangerous for his children to live there than here.
You must log in to post a comment.