Sweden grants temporary asylum to 106-year-old Afghan woman

STOCKHOLM -- A 106-year-old Afghan woman who made a perilous journey to Europe in 2015 that involved her son and grandson carrying her through mountains, deserts and forests has been granted temporary shelter in the Scandinavian country.

The Migration Court of Appeal on Wednesday said it has reversed a decision by the Swedish Migration Agency to deport Bibihal Uzbeki, who is severely disabled and can barely speak.

The court said she was in "a very bad state of health (which) may deteriorate drastically," adding an expulsion "could be considered inhuman and degrading treatment."

It conceded "particular consideration" had been given to "the extremely high age of the woman" and "her very bad state of health." That countered the agency's view age doesn't by itself provide grounds for asylum.

Her grandson Mohammed Uzbeki said the ruling meant she was given "a time-limited residence permit for 13 months" which ends July 19, 2019.

"She is really sick," her grandson said.

Uzbeki's journey through Europe made headlines in 2015, when they were part of an influx of people who came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries, through the Balkans before finally reaching Sweden.