On 2 February 2022 Roland Aliu, a 25-year-old Albanian in full application for a residence permit, rescues an 80-year-old when her house catches fire. Decorated by the Rescuers of Vienne, he saw his request refused by the prefecture of Vienne, which forced him to leave French territory. State services question his bravery.
“I know you! I saw what happened to you, it’s just not good!“Passers-by call him on the street. In the 3 Cités district of Poitiers, Roland Aliu is known by everyone. And it is no coincidence that the young Albanian distinguished himself in February 2022 for having saved a woman from the flames. A year later, the prefecture he refused his application for a residence permit and pronounced against him the obligation to leave French territory (OQTF), questioning his act of courage.
On the evening of February 2, 2022, Roland Aliu returned home to his 3 Cités neighborhood in Poitiers. On the street, the 25-year-old young man sees smoke coming out of a house. Immediately, he rushes close to the house. “I heard screams coming from inside, I went in and saw an old lady who I dragged out”remember.
While Roland warns for help, the octogenarian wants to go back to the burning house. Without truly understanding her motives, Roland Aliu convinces her not to, but goes back inside her to make sure no one else is in danger. “I stayed inside for a while to check, there was a lot of smoke”, says the young Albanian. Then the neighbors arrive, then help.
Once back home, Roland Aliu starts having severe headaches and is seized with vomiting. Inebriated by the fumes, he concludes his evening in the emergency room, without too much seriousness. “It’s normal what I did, he says. I didn’t want to be singled out for that.” A few months later, on 14 July, at the Town Hall of Poitiers, he was awarded the gold medal of the Rescuers of Vienne, accompanied by a diploma of honour.
Just over a week after the fire, on February 11, 2022, Gérald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, is visiting Poitiers. During a meeting with the readers of Nuova Repubblica, is challenged by a neighbor of Roland on the latter’s situation, then in full application for a residence permit in France. “Of course, I will watch it with pleasure and interest. I do this often, because it takes humanity in the files“, replied Gérald Darmanin. “humanity” is, however, sometimes with variable geometry, as has recalled Mediapart. At the end of 2022, Roland Aliu learned the bad news. His application for a residence permit was rejected, along with an OQTF.
When he arrived in France in April 2017 with his parents and little brother, Roland Aliu was then 19 years old. As an adult, he cannot be educated like his younger brother was. “Roland learned French very quickly despite everythingtestifies Emmanuelle Devaux of the 100 for 1 association which hosts her family. He is someone who wanted to integrate very quickly and, not being able to work, he volunteered. He gave his time to the Restos du Cœur, the Red Cross and the neighborhood committee. “I never wanted to stay home and wait. Even during Covid, I was volunteering“, he says.
It is absurd, because he is a volunteer and in France we need this workforce.
Emmanuelle Devaux, co-president of the 100 per 1 Poitiers association, who hosts and accompanies Roland Aliu and his family
In August 2017, the Aliu family was refused their asylum request by the Opra and confirmed by the National Tribunal for the Right to Asylum (CNDA) and a first OQTF was pronounced against them. They then try to obtain a residence permit, which will also be refused in June 2020, resulting in a second OQTF. It is therefore on the verge of a third OQTF pronounced by the prefecture of Vienne. “I live in fear of being deported, but I have no choice“, laments Roland Aliu.
Contacted, the prefecture justifies its refusal with the fact that the young man has not complied with his first two OQTFs but also that his “professional integration is not demonstrated”. “He can’t work because he doesn’t have papersEmmanuelle Devaux reacts. He wanted to comply with the law and is being sanctioned.” Even Roland Aliu does not understand: “If I’m not given the opportunity to work, it’s complicated. I’m enrolled in the local mission, I have a promise of work and a boss waiting for me, but that’s not enough for me to have my chance!“
If he received a promise of employment in the sale when he received his refusal from the prefecture, he had already attached another promise of employment dating from 2020 to his file. “I can’t do anything, I’m stuck, I want to work, train, but without documents it’s impossible“, continues the young Albanian.
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The prefecture also evokes another more surprising reason to justify its refusal. “The checks carried out with the rescue services and the forces of order mobilized on the fire did not allow us to validate the act of courage as reported.“, write us the services of the prefecture of Vienne. “They came later, so they didn’t see methe young man replies. But no one, neither the police headquarters nor the prefecture, asked me to tell my version.“The inhaled fumes even forced him to spend the rest of the evening in the Poitiers hospital.
Furthermore, in his application for a residence permit, Roland Aliu provided copies of four affidavits written by close witnesses – which France 3 was able to consult – in which they explained that they had helped the old lady that day. “No one went to ask these neighbors for their version either“, assures Roland Aliu. One of the certificates explains that”Roland Aliu, had just called the fire brigade and was in the process of convincing Mrs. [X] from home to take it to safety. She was screaming, he stayed calm and managed to save her from going back to the fire.“A second explains the same thing.
I’m not a liar. You don’t help someone by thinking about the residence permit.
Roland Aliu, a 25-year-old Albanian targeted by an OQTF
A third witness whom we were able to contact said that when he arrived at the scene the two people were already outside and that Roland Aliu called for help, preventing the octogenarian from returning to the house. Another witness explains that she saw the rescued warmly thanking Roland Aliu a few days later.
Within the 3 Cités district, no one really understands this rejection by the prefecture, much less the reasons given. “He is a very helpful person, who really helps everyone“, adds Emmanuel Devaux. At the 3 Cities media library as on the street, Roland Aliu is recognized and congratulated. That day, an elderly person falls on the roadway in front of the 3 Cities shopping center and Roland Aliu runs for help and introduces him to the pharmacy .You were right to do so, because this gentleman has diseases which in this case could be dangerous“, approves the pharmacist.
The young man will appeal to the administrative court to challenge the decision of the Vienne prefecture. Meanwhile, support is not lacking. A few months ago, Roland Aliu wrote to the deputy Poitevin of the presidential majority, Sacha Houlié. “At the moment, we have sent a letter to the prefecture to warn them of your situation and to support your request, which has remained unansweredreveals the deputy Sacha Houlié. As soon as I learned of the refusal, I sent a new letter, but this time to the Minister of the Interior.“
A rally is scheduled for January 12, 2023 at 4 pm, at the initiative of the 100 for 1 association in Poitiers. “This is the first time we have organized such an event.”says Emmanuelle Devaux. Many have answered the call. We tell ourselves that by mobilizing there might be a chance.“At the same time, the representatives of the 100 for 1 association will ask to be received by the prefect of Vienne”.Seeing negative feedback over and over again is hard. But I don’t want to lose hope and continue to do well for France“ concludes Roland Aliu.
