A Hindu man who was forced to flee Malaysia after falling in love with the daughter of a Muslim family, a relationship barred by Malaysian law, has been granted asylum in New Zealand.
The Immigration & Protection Tribunal hearing also heard testimony from the woman by phone from Malaysia.
She said she intended to flee to New Zealand as well to join her boyfriend as soon as it was confirmed he could stay there.
She told the tribunal of her desire to get married to the man and have a family.
The pair cannot be named but Tribunal member Louise Moor gave an outline of the star-crossed lovers’ relationship in the ruling.
The man, 25, was “drawn” to the woman, also 25, the first time they met at a cultural celebration in December 2015.
They carried on their relationship in secret, meeting regularly at his younger brother’s house.
The Religious Affairs Department was alerted and three officers came to the house and walked in on the couple.
They saw the couple surrounded by Valentine’s Day gifts including flowers and a teddy bear, Moor said.
“They did not believe their explanation that they were just friends,” Moor said.
The officers took the woman into custody and returned her to her family.
She later told her boyfriend she was beaten by her father who demanded to know his home address.
The man was taken in for questioning by the Religious Affairs Department where he was physically abused in custody according to the tribunal decision.
His mother, concerned for their safety, pleaded with him and his younger brother to leave the country.
The two brothers arrived in New Zealand in April last year.
The Immigration & Protection Tribunal was established under the Immigration Act 2009 to consider all immigration, deportation, refugee and protection appeals in New Zealand.
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