Only in Denmark

URL: http://politiken.dk/indland/ECE1182565/krigsveteran-naegtet-ophold-i-danmark/

Barialai Hassanzai risks his life as an interpreter for the Danish soldiers in Afghanistan, but he can’t get residency in Denmark.

22-years old Barialai Hassanzai is leaving to Afghanistan on Wednesday when he would take the duty as interpreter for the Danish soldier there for the second time.

Despite his contribution to Denmark, Hassanzai has just denied permanent residency in Denmark because he hasn’t fulfilled the “active citizenship” requirement, according to newspaper Information.

“When I risk my life to help the Danish soldiers but get kicked out from the Danish state, suddenly I don’t really want to do it anymore,” says Barialai Hassanzai to Information.

Mother and two siblings have obtained permanent citizenship

Venstre and Danish People’s Party (DF) claim that Udlændingeservice (Immigration Office) have followed the law in this case.

Hassanzai came to Denmark when he was 13 year old in 2002. He was family reunited with his mother. He was born in Kabul and stayed with his grandparents in Afghanistan for 3 years after his mother escaped the country in 1999 with her three children.

His mother and the younger siblings have all gotten permanent residency, while Barialai Hassanzai got stuck under the new rule that is in effect since June 1, 2010.

The new law for the permanent residency – with the point system – replaced the old one and this is where Barialai Hassanzai got stuck.

“We have noticed that you haven’t been an active citizenship in this country for minimum 1 year by taking parts in boards, organsiation…” the letter from the Immigration Office says.

Venstre: The rules are followed
Venstre’s intergation spokesman Karsten Lauritzen claims that the rules are followed

“One can define active citizenship in many ways. We have chosen to define it tightly, so that it should be easy to administrate”

“If you are sent as an interpreter, you are actually sent out by the Defense Ministry and that’s not part of the voluntary organisation involvement,” Karsten Lauritzen says.