haarlemsdagbladMay 31, 2026, 06:05

The church service that has lasted 557 days: Aram (22) and his family face arrest and deportation the moment they step outside

The Babayants family has lived inside the Open Hof church in Kampen for 557 days to avoid deportation to Uzbekistan. Volunteers maintain a continuous church service to prevent police from entering, as Dutch law prohibits arrests during religious ceremonies. Members of the Protestant Church Castricum recently took over the vigil to support the family's ongoing struggle.

Politics Culture Netherlands World

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Based on reporting by haarlemsdagblad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

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