More than 30,000 people signed the petition of support for Onel Shenaya Fernando, an 18-year-old Bordeaux high school student from Sri Lanka and under arrestan obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), due to a lack of “integration”. The petition was launched on September 25 and a support committee was also created to support the young girl whose family left Sri Lanka after death threats were made for political reasons. A few months ago the high school student, who arrived in France four years ago, submitted an application to obtain a residence permit.
A file re-examined in the event of an appeal
Normally, the OQTF execution time is one month but Onel Shenaya Fernando intends to file an appeal with the prefecture. Educated at Magendie high school, the young girl speaks French very well and obtained a good grade in the French baccalaureate. She wishes to continue her studies in France to become a veterinarian. “But we think that not a single student of foreign origin should be expelled and that education is a right for all,” believes Ulysse, a high school student and member of the support committee and the collective High school raised fist.
The prefect of Gironde said he was ready to study Shenaya’s file, in the event of an appeal, without commenting on its outcome. There is no decision taken at this stage, the Gironde prefecture emphasized this Wednesday.