The Home Office has said it believes the High Court will turn down an appeal by an Afghan family who were refused asylum in the UK and deported.

The Ahmadi family were sent to Germany a week ago after losing a battle to remain in the UK.

On Friday they won the right for judicial review of their case at the High Court, which ruled they had an "arguable" case that should be heard.

Farid Ahmadi, 33, his wife Feriba, 24, and their two young children hit the headlines when they were forcibly removed by police from a mosque in Lye, near Stourbridge, West Midlands, where they had sought sanctuary.

The government have used the judicial process to make an example of this family

Soraya Walton, family friend

Mrs Ahmadi, speaking from Germany, said: "I feel very upset and feel very sad.

"I do not know what has happened and I am so worried about my children and their schooling.

"They miss their friends in the UK and I feel very depressed."

Lawyers acting for the family said the Home Office had not gained assurances about the Ahmadis' treatment in Germany, despite claiming it had done.

The Home Office had said the family would be granted residency status there and housed within the community - but they are being held in a detention centre.

'Depressed'

A legal battle was launched to bring the family back to Britain on the basis that the Home Office had not kept to its side of the deal.

Mr Justice Crane refused to order the family be allowed to return to Britain from Germany pending the review hearing.

But he did say their case should be heard as soon as possible.

The family fled Afghanistan claiming they had been tortured and persecuted by the Taleban.

Feriba: Wants to return to the UK

But the Home Office refused permission for the Ahmadis to stay in Britain, saying they would have to seek refuge in Germany where they first sought asylum.

Campaigner Soraya Walton, whose husband is with the family in Germany, said the family's health was suffering.

"Farid has become very depressed about the whole thing and the children are very unhappy.

"The government have used the judicial process to make an example of this family.

Six separate judges... believed that the Home Office acted entirely within British and international law

Home Office

"Those children deserve freedom, not to be locked up in a prison - they've done nothing wrong.

"They just want to come home."

A Home Office spokeswoman said: "The case has been looked at by six separate judges who all believed that the Home Office acted entirely within British and international law.

"We are confident that after consideration of the full facts the court will confirm that the Home Office has acted properly."

The full judicial review hearing is due to take place during the week beginning 10 September.