Asylum-seeker can stay

Yasser Dirki, 31, from Hastings, had a nail-biting wait for the letter which arrived on Saturday confirming him as a political refugee with the right to seek asylum in England.

Mr Dirki, from Syria, had originally been told by the Home Office he would have to return to the country he fled four years ago.

His case was heard at an appeal court four weeks ago. Mr Dirki told judges he feared he would be thrown in prison or even killed for his political beliefs, advocating the rights of the Kurdish people.

He said: "I was very nervous. I am quite well known in the town and people were always asking me if I had heard.

"When I read the letter I was thrilled. They have given me asylum on human rights grounds."

His fight to stay in the country faces one last hurdle as the Home Office has the right to appeal the court's decision, a right Mr Dirki hopes that they will choose not to exercise.

He said: "I have to wait ten working days before I am given full asylum. They rarely appeal but you never know. If they do I will have to go back to court."

Far from opting for a quiet life in England, Mr Dirki threw himself into community work and continued his campaign to draw attention to the plight of the Kurds.

He said: "The reason for this, for getting asylum, was because of my political work so I will carry on until the Kurds get their independence."

He will continue his work for charity Sompriti, an organisation based in Lewes working with people from ethnic minorities.

Arabic and Kurdish-speaking asylum-seekers will also continue to benefit from his role as a translator and community worker from his base at the community centre in Silchester Mews, Silchester Road, St Leonards.

He has been supported by an army of friends and colleagues, who have backed his campaign with letters to MP Michael Foster and the Home Office.

Mr Dirki stood in the town shopping precinct daily for two months to gather support to free a Kurdish political campaigner on death row in Turkey.