A Manchester University student leader who waxed lyrical about the October 7 Hamas massacre says she is fighting a decision to revoke her UK visa on grounds of ‘national security’.
Dana Abuqamar, a 19-year-old law undergraduate of Palestinian origin who heads the Manchester Friends of Palestine group, drew criticism over remarks made at a protest at her university last year.
‘We are full of pride, we are really, really full of joy at what has happened,’ Ms Abuqamar told Sky News the day after the attack in which militants slaughtered 767 civilians.
‘This time it was [Hamas] who have taken the first move, which has taken Israel by surprise. We are proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.’
Ms Abuqamar claims the Home Office is revoking her student visa on the grounds she is a ‘risk to public safety’.
Speaking to Middle East Eye, she insisted she has ‘done nothing but go to school and advocate for social justice’ and is a victim of ‘double standards’.
‘Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right here in the UK, but it clearly does not seem to apply to people of colour or ethnic minorities, and especially not to Muslims and Palestinians like myself’, she continued.
Ms Abuqamar repeated previous claims that her comments after October 7 were misrepresented and that ‘the death of any innocent civilian should not be condoned ever’.
She added: ‘My words were taken out of context and they were framed as me supporting harm to innocent civilians, which is completely false and completely untrue.’
However, she has not clarified her original statement or put forward any alternatives as to what she felt ‘joy’ and ‘pride’ over.
While 367 of the 1,143 Israelis killed belonged to security forces, most of them died responding to targeted attacks on civilian settlements and gatherings such as the Re’im music festival.
Hamas made only one coordinated attempt to attack a military base, when militants briefly took over a command centre at Re’im so they could disrupt communications between Israeli forces while slaughtering civilians elsewhere.
Ms Abuqamar’s comments in October were condemned by a number of Jewish activists as well as policing minister Chris Philp.
Neither Ms Abuqamar’s visa status nor the Home Office’s reasons for any revocation of her papers could be independently verified as the Home Office does not comment on individual cases.
The 19-year-old said her ‘legal team has lodged a human rights appeal against this decision’.
There is no formal appeal system for visa revocation decisions, although she could in principle overturn the decision through legal action.
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The Home Office reiterated that it does not comment on individual cases but noted that ‘under the Immigration Rules, entry clearance and permission to enter or stay must be cancelled if the person’s presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good’.
‘Behaviour deemed non-conducive to the public good includes instances where people have engaged in unacceptable or extremist behaviour, such as activity which fosters hatred which may lead to inter-community violence, or where the person is associated or has been associated with people involved in terrorism,’ officials said.
The department added that decisions are taken following ‘careful consideration of the specific facts of the case’.
UK residents who have their visa revoked are expected to leave the country voluntarily and could be forcibly deported if they refuse.
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