The two teenage children of Afghan father Abdul Momand will have to leave the Netherlands despite the fact that they have Dutch nationality.

Their father was informed last week by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service that he will now have to leave the Netherlands, even though earlier three judges had ruled in his favour.

The Afghan man, who has lived in the Netherlands for 15 years and whose wife died in 2006, cannot leave his children Achmed Matin (16) and Diba Matin (15) behind.

“I don’t want to be separated from my children, but it is really not fair on them to move to Kabul." His children speak nothing but Dutch. Mr Momand works as a caretaker at a primary school in the town of Hazerswoude.

The school fully supports its caretaker and in a statement to the parents has said it would try to keep Mr Momand in the Netherlands via legal procedures. Mr Momand’s lawyer is to present a petition to Immigration Minister Gerd Leers in an effort to persuade him to make an exception for his client.

(gsh/tf)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide