A Syrian migrant who was convicted in Germany of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl is now trying to stop his deportation from the United Kingdom, arguing that sending him back would violate his human rights. Azizadeen Alsheikh Suliman, 31, fled Germany after his conviction and later entered the UK illegally by small boat, where he claimed asylum.
Suliman first left Syria after being injured and later settled in Germany, where he sought refuge and built a life. However, in 2022, he was convicted in the German city of Osnabrück for sexually assaulting a teenage girl. Court records show that he approached the 15-year-old during a night out, touched her without consent, attempted to kiss her, and tried to pull down her trousers.
The German court also found him guilty of supplying drugs to a minor. He was given a suspended prison sentence and ordered to meet certain legal obligations. However, after becoming unemployed, Suliman stopped paying a financial penalty imposed by the court.
Instead of facing further legal consequences, he fled Germany and travelled to the UK, where he applied for asylum. On arrival, he reportedly gave an incorrect spelling of his name, which delayed authorities from identifying him as a wanted man in Germany.
He was later traced and arrested in October last year by the UK’s National Crime Agency under a European Arrest Warrant. At the time, he was living in taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation. Reports say local authorities and police were unaware of his criminal background while he was residing in the community.
Suliman has now appeared in a British court to block his extradition to Germany. He claims his life would be at risk if he is returned, alleging that a long-running family feud from Syria followed him to Europe and that rival family members could target him.
His legal team also argues that deporting him would breach Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects the right to family life. Suliman currently lives in the UK with his wife and child, and his lawyers say removing him would unfairly separate the family.
German authorities have rejected his claims, insisting that his safety fears are not credible. They argue that he could continue family life in Germany and warn that the UK should not become a refuge for people trying to escape justice for crimes committed abroad.
Suliman remains in custody while the court considers whether extraditing him to Germany would breach his human rights. A final decision on his deportation is expected in the coming weeks.
The case has sparked renewed debate in the UK over the balance between protecting human rights and ensuring public safety, especially in cases involving serious crimes committed abroad. Critics argue that allowing convicted offenders to delay removal through lengthy legal appeals undermines confidence in the asylum system.
Supporters of stricter migration controls say the case highlights gaps in information sharing between European countries, which allowed Suliman to enter and live in the UK despite being wanted by German authorities.
Meanwhile, campaigners for victims’ rights have stressed the importance of ensuring justice for the teenage victim, warning that prolonged legal battles risk retraumatising those affected by serious crimes.
The court is now tasked with deciding whether Suliman’s personal circumstances outweigh Germany’s request for his return to face the consequences of his conviction, a ruling that could set an important precedent for future cross-border deportation cases involving criminal migrants.