Documents reveal UK immigration minister pushed to revoke Palestinian student’s visa
London (Quds News Network)– British authorities have revoked the visa of Dana Abu Qamar, a 20-year-old Palestinian law student, following her outspoken advocacy for Gaza at the University of Manchester. The visa cancellation, which occurred in December 2023, was reportedly initiated after Abu Qamar’s participation in a campus demonstration and an interview with Sky News where she discussed Gaza’s resistance to Israel’s oppressive regime.
The former Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, a contender for Conservative leadership, played a central role in the decision, according to the Guardian. Court documents revealed that Jenrick inquired about the possibility of revoking Abu Qamar’s visa, questioning whether her presence in the UK was “conducive to the public good.” His inquiry was made shortly after Abu Qamar’s comments on the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which drew significant attention.
Abu Qamar, who holds dual Jordanian-Canadian citizenship and is of Palestinian origin, has a personal history deeply intertwined with the Israeli ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. She lost 22 relatives in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, and her grandparents were displaced during the 1948 Nakba. Despite her strong stance, Abu Qamar distanced herself from supporting any militant groups.
The case has sparked a legal challenge, with Abu Qamar appealing the government’s decision on human rights grounds. The outcome of her appeal is expected later this month, as the UK’s new Labour government takes a more cautious approach to Middle East policy, recently suspending some arms exports to Israel over concerns of potential violations of international humanitarian law.
A spokesperson for the European Legal Support Center criticized the UK government’s actions, calling them an attempt to suppress free speech and Palestinian advocacy.
