Grald Darmanin had promised him papers, he received

For having saved a resident of Trois-Cits Poitiers from the flames, Roland Aliu received the gold medal from the rescuers of Vienne, this Thursday, July 14, 2022. Grald Darmanin had promised him a residence permit. In vain.

There were people around the young man, under the gilded salons of the Poitiers town hall, Thursday July 14, 2022. Roland Aliu, Albanian, who arrived in France five years ago, was surrounded by his whole family and of those who support his fight to obtain French nationality. The Viennese rescuers presented him with the supreme reward: the gold medal for his act of courage. Last February, Roland Aliu saved an octogenarian from the flames in his burning house in the Trois-Cits district.

“You need humanity in the files”

The medal hangs on his suit jacket, the 24-year-old young man who speaks perfect French, on the other hand, is still waiting for the promise of Grald Darmanin, Minister of the Interior, to be kept. Within our editorial staff, last February, Sandrine Hugot, member of the Trois-Cits neighborhood committeetold him about this act of courage, asking him if it was possible to reconsider Roland Aliu’s case.

Roland Aliu, during the ceremony at the town hall of Poitiers, Thursday July 14, 2022.

©Delphine Blanchard

The Minister of the Interior had promised: Of course, I will look at it willingly and with interest. I often do this because it takes humanity in the files, while specifying that if we regularize anyone who has come to the territory in an irregular manner, there will be a call for air. Since then, Sandrine Hugot has recontacted the ministry’s secretariat. Zero response, she laments, on the forecourt of the town hall this July 14.

Also close to the young Albanian, she explains: If there is someone who is integrated, it’s Roland! He has his heart on his sleeve. He helps with Restos du Coeur. There, he did not hesitate for a second when he saw the flames last February. It is incomprehensible that his request for regularization is not taken into account.

The little brother forced to leave the territory

Roland Aliu also confides: I am very proud of this award. My mother and my father are too. It’s a lot of emotion to have been applauded. But there is this request which does not find an answer which prevents me from being completely happy…

Worse, his little brother received an obligation to leave French territory (an OQTF), just a few days ago. I don’t know what to do…, blows Roland, helpless. The family is followed by the solidarity association Cent pour Un. But this threat blows a bad wind on the future of the Poitiers family.

And it is not the promises, for the time being not kept, of the Minister of the Interior, which reassure Roland and his family…

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