A DESPERATE mum will launch a High Court battle to keep her family in Southampton.

Iranian Sara Shakeri fled her country with her husband Saba four years ago as political asylum seekers because of their involvement in anti-government activism.

Now the couple and their British born four-year-old son Kouroush face deportation after their appeal was rejected by the UK Border Agency (UKBA).

As reported in the Daily Echo Saba, 30, was arrested and taken to a detention centre in Portsmouth but he was released for just two weeks on bail before he was taken back there.

But determined Sara, 28, has pledged to fight to stay in the country and will now go to London’s High Court to put her case in front of a judge in her last desperate attempt.

Officials said little Kouroush does not automatically have a right to live in the UK.

She said: “I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me. I couldn’t bear it if people put their hands on my son and said ‘poor Kouroush’.

“I want to be strong but the reality is I am not going back to Iran.

“If they tell me I have to go back I will kill myself here. I don’t want Iranian people to rape me and kill me in front of my child.”

Sara, who cannot work due to her status but volunteered as an interpreter for a charity offering support to refugees and asylum seekers, set up home in Southampton city centre. Sara said she does not want benefits but wants a visa so she has the right to work. Her son only gets to see his father once a week.

She added: “He used to come home with a smile every day. Now he is scared of everything. Before he used to do nice drawings and colour everything in, now he just scribbles in a mess. This child opened his eyes in this country, he should have human rights.”