UK minister Jenrick intervened to push for removal of Palestinian's student visa
Robert Jenrick, the former UK immigration minister, personally intervened in the case of a Palestinian student whose visa was revoked after she made a speech in support of Palestine, legal documents relating to the case have revealed.
Dana Abu Qamar, a law student who led the Friends of Palestine Society at the University of Manchester, had her student visa revoked late last year on "national security" grounds after the Home Office determined that her presence in the UK was "not conducive to the public good".
She believes the decision was linked to a speech she gave after the 7 October attacks in Israel in which she highlighted Palestinians' historic resistance to Israel's "oppressive regime", and subsequent comments she made in an interview with Sky News.
Abu Qamar later told the BBC that her comments were misinterpreted and that "the death of any innocent civilian should not be condoned ever, and we don't condone it at all".
She is now appealing the decision to revoke her student visa, with the case due to be heard in court later this month.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
Email disclosure related to her case revealed that Jenrick, who is now running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, instructed his private secretary to message the Home Office about Abu Qamar prior to the decision to revoke her visa.
Jenrick's private secretary said the former minister was interested in "finding out about Dana Abuqamar" and enquired whether it was "possible to revoke her student visa," according to the documents.
Abu Qamar's legal team criticised Jenrick's intervention and said it appeared to have replaced the "established referral process" within the Home Office when seeking to revoke an individual's student visa.
Since the start of the war in Gaza, Abu Qamar has lost 22 members of her family in Gaza. Commenting on email disclosures showing that Jenrick was personally involved in the removal of her student visa, Abu Qamar said it was "unfair" and "challenging".
“To be targeted by a government minister, outside of the established process, for speaking on behalf of a people subjected to such atrocities feels not only unjust – but an attempt to suppress and silence my rights for political reasons and gains,” she said.
The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), which is supporting Abu Qamar, also said it was concerned that Jenrick's direct involvement could set a precedent for international students supportive of Palestine.
"It is truly unconscionable for a government minister to personally and arbitrarily intervene to remove a Palestinian student from the country and suppress her speech while her family is being killed in Gaza," said Tasnima Uddin from the ELSC.
"Despite Jenrick's previous statements about the importance of protecting freedom of expression, he seems perfectly comfortable suppressing speech when it comes to Palestine solidarity, seemingly for ideological purposes and political gains."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will now review the decision by the previous government to revoke Abu Qamar's student visa as part of the proceedings by 13 September.
The Home Office did not comment the time of writing but a spokesperson told the Guardian that it "would be inappropriate to comment while there are ongoing legal proceedings."
MEE also reached out to Jenrick's leadership campaign which did not comment at the time of writing.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
