The Oslo district court has now ruled that Suel Kassembo has no right to stay in Norway, and that the Norwegian authorities were in their right when they tried to send him out of the country earlier this year. The Sunnmør-speaking man came to Norway as a teenager, but has now spent most of his life in Norway. Suel Kassembo’s supporters have organized a support concert, gone in a torchlight procession, collected money and supported him through a court case. Now it is clear that they have not closed. The Oslo District Court rules that the Immigration Board’s decision not to grant him asylum – and the decision to send him out of the country – are correct. In addition, he must pay almost NOK 90,000 in legal costs after the trial. The judgment states: “The court has … concluded that Kassembo is not exposed to a real risk of persecution if he returns to Burundi.” – I am very, very disappointed, says Suel Kassembo to news on Tuesday morning. – We had hoped that this particular case would have a different result, says associate attorney Malene Valkwæ Jenssen. Jenssen says that the verdict probably means that Kassembo will have to leave the country within a short time. Suel Kassembo in conversation with solicitor Malene Valkwæ Jenssen in the Oslo district court. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news This is the case Suel Hussein Kassembo came to Norway in 2005 and asked for asylum. He claims he comes from the village of Buyenzi in Burundi and that both his parents and sisters were killed just before he left. Kassembo stated that he was 16 years old and had no living relatives in his home country. If he had been believed in this, he would probably have been granted a stay in Norway. He was refused asylum in January 2007, and was deported in 2010. He was later also refused a work permit. Several complaints have not changed this. The governing authorities do not trust his story. They think he is older than he says and comes from neighboring Tanzania, not Burundi. He has been staying illegally in the country since he was refused, mostly in Søre Sunnmøre. The authorities also claim that he has bid on a hidden address. He recently presented paper which he believes documents both his age and the country he comes from. The governing authorities do not trust that the document is genuine, but nevertheless state that they will send him back to Burundi. In August 2023, he was arrested by the police to be sent out of the country. Just hours before the flight left, he received approval for the court to consider his case. It happened in Oslo District Court in November. Supporters have collected money for the lawsuit. Over 10,000 people have signed a petition for Kassembo to be allowed to stay in Norway. Now the Oslo District Court has ruled that the Immigration Board’s decision is correct and that Kassembo must leave the country. Appeal to the Court of Appeal Suel Kassembo and his supporters have already decided to appeal to the Court of Appeal. Lawyer Christine Bjornes, who represented the Immigration Service in the courtroom, does not wish to comment on the verdict, which they have fully won. She points further to the press department. – We note that the district court has come to the conclusion that UNE’s decision is valid, writes the press department on behalf of unit manager Hanne Bjerkan Johnsen. Rejects key point for supporters Suel Hussein Kassembo has always claimed that he is from Burundi and that his life was in danger because of his father’s political involvement. If the Norwegian authorities had believed in him when he arrived, he would probably have been granted residency in 2007. His supporters have placed great importance on this in the fight for him to stay in Norway. This point is rejected in the judgment in the Oslo district court: “Even if UNE’s refusal of asylum in 2007 was invalid, it will not mean that Kassembo will at any time be treated as if he had had legal residence in Norway.” Wanted to send him back to Burundi After 19 years in Norway, Kassembo presented new documentation on his origins this summer. Shortly afterwards, he had the police at his door with the message that he was now leaving the country. UNE still believes that the documents are not reliable enough to establish that he is from Burundi. Nevertheless, the authorities want to send him back to the same African country. With the help of a decision from the Oslo district court, the envoy was stopped at the last minute. – I am afraid for my own life. I am afraid of the same people who killed my own father, he said when he explained himself in the Oslo district court during the trial in November. The Immigration Board’s representatives in court: former lawyer Christine Bjornes and adviser Anastasia Valland. Photo: Bård Nafstad / news Supporting players turned up Suel Kassembo has work and many friends in Sunnmøre after living in the area for years. Over 10,000 people have signed the petition for him to stay in Norway. Several of his supporters appeared in court recently. This drawing was presented in court and is supposed to show Suel Kassembo’s hometown. His lawyer presented it together with a map of the village and believes it shows that he is telling the truth about his origins. Illustration: Drawing / Suel Hussein Kassembo
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Suel Kassembo fought for 19 years to stay in Norway
