A convicted rapist is fighting deportation from the UK after claiming he cannot be returned to Egypt because he is bisexual and would face persecution. Karam Majdi, 27, an Egyptian national whose asylum claim was previously rejected after he falsely claimed to be a Syrian child soldier, is challenging his removal through the immigration tribunal. Majdi is currently awaiting a judge’s decision following a hearing in which he argued that deporting him would breach his human rights.
Jailed for raping 14-year-old girl
Majdi was jailed for seven years after being convicted of raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl he met at East Croydon railway station in 2018. Following a six-day trial at Brighton Crown Court, jurors found him guilty of the attack, during which he took the teenager to a hostel and raped her. The court heard the victim suffered extensive bruising, with evidence stating her thighs were left “black and blue”. Majdi was released from prison in 2021.
False asylum claims
The immigration tribunal heard Majdi arrived in the UK by small boat in 2016, claiming to be a Syrian child soldier from Aleppo. However, language analysis later established he was from Egypt, not Syria, and officials also concluded he was an adult rather than the minor he had claimed to be. His original asylum application was subsequently refused.
Bisexuality claim
Majdi now argues he is bisexual and would face persecution if deported to Egypt. The Home Office disputes the claim, describing it as “an embellishment, a fabrication.” Officials told the tribunal Majdi had only pursued women on social media and said there was no reliable evidence supporting his claimed relationships with men. Majdi told the tribunal he had lost evidence that would support his case after he “misplaced his SIM card.” The Home Office has also withdrawn an earlier concession that he may have been bisexual, describing that previous assessment as “unhelpful.”
Further offending
The tribunal also heard Majdi has received further convictions since his release from prison, including offences relating to:
- Possession of cocaine
- Driving without a licence
- Driving without insurance
The Home Office argues these convictions demonstrate he continues to pose a risk to the public.
Decision expected
Majdi represented himself during the immigration hearing and declined the assistance of an interpreter, telling the tribunal he was able to explain his case without one. An immigration judge is expected to rule on whether he can be deported next month. The case has renewed debate over the deportation of foreign nationals convicted of serious offences, the use of sexuality-based asylum claims, and the time taken to remove offenders who have completed prison sentences. Majdi remains in the UK pending the outcome of the tribunal proceedings.
