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Deport order for Algerian asylum-seeker

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A Jewish asylum-seeker from Algeria who is currently in detention has been told he will be deported back to the country in two weeks.

Krim Aitziane, 49, who came to Britain 11 years ago, was detained by immigration authorities three weeks ago.

He was previously denied refugee status but was given leave to remain pending an aliyah application, which was submitted in October 2009.

Ruth Jacobs, director of the Israel Information Centre Midlands, who has been campaigning on his behalf, this week appealed urgently to aliyah representatives in the UK .

She told them: "This man has the necessary paperwork to prove his Jewish status which fulfils the criteria set by the Israeli government, and it would be appalling if he is deported to an Arab country where there is no opportunity for him to have a fulfilled Jewish life."

Rafi Nassi, UK head of the Jewish Agency, said: "We are still checking his Jewish background. He says he was Jewish in Algeria and we are looking to get some proof for that."

An immigration judge previously found that there was no evidence to suggest practising Jews in Algeria.

But Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies, said this week that it hoped to supply information on the "parlous state" of Jews in Algeria.

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