THE UK Home Office has deferred the removal from Scotland of a young asylum seeker who is currently in the Dungavel detention centre.

Isabella Katjiparatijivi, a 29-year-old from Namibia, had sought asylum fearing that she faced persecution in her home country because of her sexuality.

Her case was unsuccessful and she was refused leave to appeal to upper immigration tribunals.

She was detained last week when she attended her regular appointment to report to the Home Office.

READ MORE: Home Office lied to The National over asylum seeker case, lawyer says

Her lawyer, Usman Aslam, told the National: “We received an email from the Home Office at around 10.30am today confirming that the removal has been deferred.

“McGlashan MacKay are delighted with this result for our client. We are disappointed that despite serving the Home Office with the Court of Session petition on Thursday January 17 that they then issued Removal Directions on Friday 18.

“We have yet to receive any response in respect of her on-going detention.

“We would hope that we don’t have to raise court proceedings for this.

“Hopefully Isabella has the chance to now properly challenge her case at the Court of Session.”