A failed asylum seeker convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl has been denied his bid to avoid deportation, as a judge ruled that he is not bisexual and continues to pose a danger to Britain.
Karam Majdi, 27, had claimed in a last-ditch asylum appeal that he could not be deported to Egypt because he is bisexual and would face persecution. However, an immigration tribunal dismissed his appeal, finding that his deportation "was and remains in the public interest."
The tribunal rejected Majdi's claim to be Syrian, noting inconsistencies in his account of relationships with men and a lack of supporting evidence. Judge R. Abdar concluded, "I am satisfied that the Appellant has failed to rebut the presumption of the Appellant posing a danger to the community. I am not satisfied that the Appellant is bisexual."
Majdi was sentenced to seven years in prison for the sex attack, which occurred in 2017 after he met the victim online. He arrived in the UK in 2016, claiming to be an unaccompanied child from Syria. During his imprisonment, he was assessed as a "high risk to children."
Majdi's attempt to fight deportation included claiming bisexuality, a claim initially considered by the government before being challenged by the Home Office. At the deportation tribunal, evidence presented by the Home Office suggested his bisexuality claim was a fabrication. A 2019 report indicated Majdi had only dated girls he met on social media, with no evidence of attraction to men.
The Home Office had previously accepted Majdi's claim of bisexuality based on a professional opinion, but this concession was later withdrawn by the Secretary of State. Majdi reportedly refused to discuss his sexuality openly and claimed relationships with two men, but could not provide evidence, stating any photos or texts were lost with a misplaced phone SIM card.
Further convictions emerged during the hearing, including cocaine possession, driving without a license and insurance in April, and a pending court appearance in June for alleged possession of cannabis. Majdi also continued to insist he was Syrian, claiming to have obtained a Syrian identity document from a man at a mosque. The Home Office countered that Syria is no longer under the control of the Islamic State or former President Bashar al-Assad, thus not posing a threat to returning citizens.
An initial anonymity order for Majdi was challenged by the Home Office, arguing that reporting his name and criminal background was in the public interest and crucial to the principle of open justice. The judge withdrew the order, allowing his further offenses and appeal to be publicly reported.
A Home Office spokesperson stated, "We will do everything in our power to deport this dangerous criminal and will continue to resist all appeals against his deportation."