For over a year, a family of six from Uzbekistan has been living in continuous church service within the Open Hof church in Kampen, Netherlands, seeking sanctuary from deportation [[1]]. Sustained by a rotating group of over 2,000 volunteers, the Babayants family’s case highlights the complex intersection of immigration policy, the rights of long-term resident children, and the role of religious institutions in offering refuge within the Dutch legal framework. Their situation underscores a growing debate around the now-defunct “children’s pardon” and the challenges facing families with deep roots in the Netherlands who face ongoing legal battles to remain [[2]].
NOS News•
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Rolinde Hoorntje
Domestic Affairs Editor
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Rolinde Hoorntje
Domestic Affairs Editor
A year ago today, the Open Hof church in Kampen opened its doors to the Babayants family from Uzbekistan. With a continuous church service, sustained by over 2,000 volunteers from across the Netherlands, the Protestant Church in the Netherlands (PKN) congregation is protecting the family from deportation. The situation highlights the complexities surrounding immigration policy and the role of religious institutions in providing sanctuary.
During a religious service, police are prohibited from entering the building, effectively preventing the family’s removal.
The Babayants family consists of two parents and four children, ages 21, 15, 11, and 4. They have been in the Netherlands for 12 years, with two of the children born in the country. They recently received a negative decision on a repeated asylum request and are hoping for a solution for “all rooted children” in the Netherlands, as they put it.
Confined to the Church
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The family has remained inside the church building since November 21, 2024, getting fresh air only in the courtyard. They have a private room with its own doorbell within the church, and the two middle children receive private lessons from volunteer teachers. The eldest son, Aram, participates in sports and assists the church with tasks and social media.
“Complicated,” Aram (21) responded when asked about living inside for a year. “On the one hand, you’re outside the world. You wonder if you’re different from everyone else, if you’ve done something wrong not to be able to participate. I’ve just tried my best to integrate.”
He says it feels like being locked up. “But we’ve traded our freedom for safety.” Last year, the family lived in basic accommodations for asylum seekers whose cases had been closed. “We were constantly on edge then. You’d wonder what was going to happen, if you’d be pulled from your bed at any moment. The first night in the church, we were finally able to sleep peacefully,” Aram said. “We are safe here now.”
The ‘Children’s Pardon’
The Babayants family is not the only family with “rooted children” facing deportation in the Netherlands. According to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), there are approximately 420 children who have lived in the Netherlands for more than five years and have applied for asylum, potentially facing expulsion. The children’s rights organization Defence for Children believes the actual number is higher.
This week, it was revealed that Armenian national Mikael and his mother will be allowed to remain in the Netherlands, as Mikael’s father had previously been granted a residency permit. More details on that case can be found here.
The IND declined to comment on individual cases. A spokesperson stated that church sanctuary is not considered when making decisions. Revisions are only possible if new facts emerge, and neither rooting nor church sanctuary are considered valid grounds for revision.
Church Sanctuary
The Babayants children have renewed hope now that the cabinet has fallen. Aram said, “Before, there was a cabinet that blamed refugees for everything, but is it our fault that we are still here when the law still allows us to submit a repeated asylum request?”
A spokesperson for Minister Van Weel stated that no statements will be made about individual cases. “In the Netherlands, we have a system where the IND handles individual asylum requests and makes decisions about them. These procedures are careful and also allow for consideration of the best interests of the child and the right to family life. The IND’s assessment can be reviewed by the courts. Anyone who is not entitled to asylum must return, including families with children.”
