16 January 2006
Two Jewish teenagers from Kyrgyzstan, detained by British authorities for deportation, have been released. Prior to being sent to the detention center, the 18-year-old twins Kamila and Karina Kaya, who are orphans, had been living and studying in Birmingham where they were actively involved with the local Jewish community. The two girls fled the central Asian former Soviet republic more than two years ago after allegedly witnessing the murders of their parents. When their asylum applications were officially denied in late December, they were taken to the detention center. Authorities intended to deport the teenagers last week, which the girls claimed could result in their own murders or forced work in prostitution. However, at the beginning of January, it was announced that the deportation was delayed seven weeks due to intense efforts by Birmingham's Jewish community and a last-minute request by the Israeli embassy for a stay of the deportation. The Israeli government offered them the right to make aliyah, conditional on a government check of their birth certificates. Since bail was posted, the girls have returned to Birmingham, where they will remain until their move to Israel is approved.
