A man who raped a 14-year-old schoolgirl is attempting to avoid deportation by claiming he is bisexual and would be persecuted in his home country. Karam Majdi, 27, was jailed in 2018 for the attack, which a judge described as 'opportunistic' and 'vile'.
Conviction and sentence
Majdi came to the UK by small boat in 2016 and was living in a hostel in Hove when he travelled to London in 2017. He met the schoolgirl online and pinned her down despite her protests. The assault left her thighs black and blue. He was sentenced to seven years in a youth offender's institution and served half of that sentence.
Sexuality claim
In his latest bid to resist deportation, Majdi claimed he is bisexual and would be persecuted in Syria, which he says is his home country — though officials are unsure of his nationality. His appeal was initially considered by the government, but the Home Office challenged it this week.
George Mavrantonis, for the Home Office, said: 'Since 2021 he claimed to be bisexual. It is an embellishment, a fabrication for the asylum claim.' He added that a 2019 report showed Majdi reported not being in a relationship and having dated girls he met on social media. 'There is only evidence towards his attraction to girls and none towards men.'
Previous asylum attempts
Majdi had previously tried to avoid deportation, but the Home Office rejected his asylum application after disputing his claim to be from Syria. He allegedly said his identity documents were lost at sea when he arrived by small boat in 2016, and that he was an unaccompanied child from Syria who had been fighting in Aleppo. A language assessment led immigration authorities to believe he lied about his home country.
Mavrantonis questioned the authenticity of documents Majdi provided and argued that even if they were genuine, the country was no longer under the control of Islamic State or former President Bashar al-Assad, so it is no longer a threat to returning citizens.
Tribunal hearing
In the tribunal hearing at Field House in London, Majdi claimed he had relationships with two men but could not provide evidence, saying photos and texts were lost after he misplaced his iPhone SIM card. He refused an interpreter and defended himself under cross-examination. Judge R M Abdar will rule on Majdi's claims of sexuality and nationality by next month.
