Asian
Express
Yorkshire
OCTOBER 2ND EDITION 2014
INSIDE THIS EDITION
DR ABBAS KHAN INQUEST Inquest hears how mother travelled to Syria and kissed the feet of officials begging them to release her son
See page 47
MECCA SELFIE Many frown upon pilgrims snapping themselves between prayers during Hajj
See page 61
BIG B CELEBRATES HIS 72ND BIRTHDAY Amitabh Bachchan: “My loved ones with me today is the greatest gift”
See page 65
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From teenage refugee with no English language skills to top London lawyer QUALIFIED: Jasleen Kaur arrived in England ten years ago as a refugee from Afghanistan and now works at one of London’s most reputable law firms
Legal eagle By Ashley Grint ashley@asianexpress.co.uk
As a teenage refugee from Afghanistan, Jasleen Kaur arrived in the UK with no English language skills and little direction in life.
However, after less than a decade in the country, the now 23-year-old has achieved more in her short time in England than many others ever will, graduating from university and landing her dream job in the paralegal industry.
Now living in London, Jasleen said she could not believe how quickly she had found success in the country. “It is overwhelming to begin with,” she said. “But you quickly realise that dreams are indeed achievable and I have begun to achieve mine.” Jasleen and her family first arrived in the UK in 2005, setting up home in Huddersfield, after life in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, is said to have become oppressive for people of their faith.
As a Sikh family, they quickly settled with the local Sikh community and Jasleen began attending the nearby Moor End Academy where she had the challenge of learning English from scratch. “It came slowly, but I was dedicated and had a sheer passion to learn and be successful,” said Jasleen, whose first language is Punjabi. “All Sikhs are under threat in Afghanistan. You don’t have the freedom to live your life the way you want to.”
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