ARMEND'S LEGAL BATTLE

Originally posted on our ministry Facebook group's wall on June 16, 2022



Today we have had another small victory. After months of waiting, this morning we picked up an ID card for 18-yo Armend Quni. This way we reached another milestone in helping him, his mother and sister to regulate their stay in Montenegro (FYI - an ID card is the most important personal identification document in most European countries. While ex. driver’s license and passport are optional, all 18+ yo citizens are required to have one).

I have shared information about this many times already, but for those of you who joined us later, we have been providing legal aid to many Roma-Ashkali/Egyptian families in the period 2011-2016. It was then that the need for this segment of our ministry decreased. However, some complicated, challenging cases remained and with some of them we are still dealing with.

Such is Armend’s case. Becoming fatherless at the early stage of his life, Armend, together with his mother and sister, got almost lost in legal loopholes caused by negligence, lack of guidance and extremely difficult family circumstances. Thankfully, we were able to step in and keep them “in the game”. While Armend is rather “safe”, there is still a long way to go for his mom and sister. 

Having said that, I have to add that covid restrictions came in the worst possible moment and interrupted the timing of legal actions we were taking on their behalf. It is our prayer that we will be able to make up for the time lost and get the two of them back on track. 

Meanwhile, let us rejoice for this small victory which is an encouragement and pours in the new strength for coming (legal) battles.

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