Turkish-born Yusuf Arabaci feels he should never have signed up for an intensive Danish language course - the class that cost him his residence permit.
Along with the official notification that his permit had been denied, Arabaci was given seven days to leave the country, even though the 25-year-old had done everything he could to effectively integrate into Danish society.
The Danish Immigration Service (DIS) ordered Arabaci to leave the country on grounds that he had neither a steady job nor income for the duration of his Danish language class.
Arabaci and John Christensen, his employer, have filed a formal appeal with the integration ministry and the DIS, and Arabaci will be allowed to remain in Denmark pending a final decision. Arabaci is still at a loss to understand his rights in the present situation.
"I was sure it had to be a mistake. I was told to leave the country because I enrolled in a Danish language class," Arabaci told the daily Jyllands-Posten.
"I've always gone to work, paid my taxes, and now I'm being sent home for trying to learn Danish."
Arabaci believes Danish language classes should be a prerequisite for integration - not grounds for deportation. Integration Minister Bertel Haarder says he will review the case.
--Indo-Asian News Service