A former Kosovo Albanian refugee who fled the Balkans and came in England in fear for his life 11 years ago has been denied his first return home since –- because he could not spell his name in English.
Kujtim Hoxha, an ethnic Albanian, and his wife, Vjollca, abandoned their lives and possessions in Shtime, Kosovo, in 2000 to escape Serbian persecution. Mr Hoxha had already been blinded in one eye by a roadside bomb. His farm was later burnt to the ground.
Having lived ever since in Felling, Gateshead, they both gained British citizenship. They had hoped to fly home on Thursday to visit relatives including their daughter, who they have not seen in more than a decade, and grandchildren, some of whom they have never seen.
But when Mr Hoxha, 76, applied for a passport, his faceto- face interview, at Durham City’s passport office, was abandoned as he could not spell his name in English.
Relatives offered to translate, but officials refused and called off the interview, saying he must attend another appointment in Edinburgh, Leicester or Liverpool.
Source and whole article:
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9220011.Spelling_problem_stops_refugee_s_return_home/
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