Delibaş Arat, a father of four, was detained in Marseille on the grounds that he had no "residence permit" in France.

Numerous educationalists have launched a signature campaign demanding that Arat be released and given a residence permit.

“We, teachers, educational assistants and social service workers, learned that Lorin’s and Delila's father, Mr. Arat was arrested at Vallons des Pins College,” the petition text submitted to the Governorship of Bouches Du Rhône said.

The petitioners said that the two girls have two more siblings in kindergarten and primary school, that all of them receive a decent education, that they have friends and are well integrated into their classrooms.

The petition said:

“Lorin and Delila overcome difficulties thanks to the support of the entire community. They are our students, and we refuse to lose them, or to see their moral collapse or return to insecurity if their family is deported.

At a time when the latest events prove the necessity to help migrants, we do not want administrative decisions to affect the emotional stability of these four children.

We ask the French authorities to allow them to be with their father to continue their school.

We want you to allow us to complete the school teaching assigned to us.

We kindly ask you to give a residence permit to Mr. and Mrs. Arat.

Vallons Des Pins College’s Teaching Staff.”