Afghan student can stay in the UK

Husien Panahi was told earlier this year that he faced deportation

A teenager who has been living in Kent after fleeing Afghanistan following the murder of his parents has been told he can stay in the UK.

Husien Panahi, 19, settled in Chatham four years ago, and was officially granted asylum over the weekend.

His campaign to stay had attracted many supporters, including members of staff and fellow sixth form students at his school in Chatham.

The Home Office can appeal against the ruling by an immigration tribunal.

During his time in Kent, Mr Panahi has learnt English, passed 11 GCSEs and sat his A-Levels. He is now hoping to go to university later this year.

I'm so proud of everyone who supported me Husien Panahi

He was supported in his campaign against deportation after immigration officials ruled earlier this year that he should return to Afghanistan.

The verdict from the immigration tribunal overturning the Home Office decision came in a letter he received on Saturday.

"I'm so proud of everyone who supported me... and I wish that I had the time, and I had the chance first of all, to go and find everyone and shake their hands, and say a big thank you to all of them," Mr Panahi said.

One of his teachers, Vaughan Lewis, added: "We're really delighted because he's such an exceptional person.

"He's given so much since he's been in the country and it would have been a terrible, glaring injustice if he'd been refused permission to remain here."