Court Decision Allows Healthcare Couple to Stay Temporarily in Sweden Amid Immigrant Vulnerability Concerns

In a significant development highlighting the impact of community support on immigrant residency, Zahra Kazemipour and Afshad Joubeh, healthcare workers at Södersjukhuset in Stockholm, have been granted temporary permission to stay in Sweden following a migration court ruling. The couple fled Iran in 2016 and faced a deportation order set to take effect on January 8, 2026. This order was reversed after their case was reviewed, giving them respite and a chance for a renewed residency status examination. Zahra expressed relief and joy at the ruling, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and collective action. This came after several demonstrations organized by colleagues and community members in Stockholm advocating on their behalf. Zahra stated, "Now we know that we humans can make a difference together."

Meanwhile, in Gävle, another story of immigrant vulnerability came to light when a woman in her 40s was found living in a furnished and locked container at a recycling center. The discovery followed a police call after the woman was attacked by two men, involving an attempt to stab her with a screwdriver and a gasoline assault on her makeshift sofa. Despite the life-threatening nature of the attack, she escaped without injury. Prior to this, social services had been alerted about a person possibly living in the container but found no one during their inspection. After the attack, the woman reported her living arrangements to both police and social services, clarifying that she did not live with a child contrary to earlier reports. The container was subsequently removed as it belonged to a bankrupt company undergoing asset liquidation.

These two stories collectively underscore the challenges faced by vulnerable immigrants in Sweden—ranging from precarious living conditions to the uncertainty of legal residency. The temporary legal reprieve for Kazemipour and Joubeh illustrates how community activism can influence migration outcomes positively, while the woman’s living situation in Gävle highlights the urgent need for social intervention and support to prevent such dangerous circumstances.