The 15-year-old Palestinian-Syrian boy, known as "Hamodi", has lived in Norway half his life. He speaks fluent Norwegian and claims to have close Norwegian friends. On top of that, his deceased father, a Palestinian-Syrian refugee, is buried in the town of Gjøvik in eastern Norway.
Still, Norwegian immigration authorities have decided not to grant "Hamodi" and his mother asylum in Norway.
This ruling came despite recent legislation to make immigration easier for children with a strong attachment to Norway.
"It seems that the ruling contradicts the new legislation. It is surprising," said "Hamodi's" lawyer Jan Erik Mellemberg to Aftenposten.no.
The staff at the refugee centre in the town of Gjøvik, where "Hamodi" and his mother live, were also shocked by the decision of the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board, known as UNE (Utlendingsnemda).
"I don't remember much of my life before Norway," said "Hamodi" to Aftenposten.no.
"I don't know anyone in Syria, and I cannot write or read Arabic. It will be terrible to go there," he added.
But according to UNE, the 15-year-old's attachment to Norway is not strong enough to allow him to stay. The immigration authorities argue that "Hamodi" and his mother are from a culture where family ties are strong.
"He has siblings, and a number of uncles and aunts in Syria. We are not informed that he has strong ties to Norwegian places or Norwegian friends," a statement from UNE read.
In a letter to UNE, the family’s lawyer is urging the immigration authorities to review "Hamodi's" case one more time.
