UK revokes visa of law student who addressed pro-Palestine protest

[NotSoBigCrocodile]

With all the recent threads about the protests, I wonder what everyone thinks about the U.K. Government revoking the visa of 19 year old law student Dana Abuqamar. She said that:

“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, but it seems to not apply to ethnic minorities, particularly Muslims and Palestinians like myself.”

She is challenging the decision and has accused the U.K. of hypocrisy. These are her comments, which she said have been taken out of context:

https://x.com/australianwoma1/status/1791064513321795956

I always see written on Mumsnet that “freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequence.”

Do you think the Government’s decision is the correct one?

With such "pride" and "joy" in the events of 7 October, she'll feel much more at home in a place where others openly share her viewpoint. It must be awful for her feeling she is under unfair pressure to curb her enthusiasm.

There is no such thing as freedom of speech here in this country....the double standards and hypocrisy of UK has been exposed for everyone to see. On one hand this country had a verbal diarrhoea when Russia invaded Ukraine, and on the other hand this very country took part, and still is, in the genocide of Palestinians - over 30K killed. The hypocrisy is breathtaking.

There is no such thing as freedom of speech here in this country....the double standards and hypocrisy of UK has been exposed for everyone to see.

Compared to where?

Freedom of expression is a right. It is article 10 of the ECHR. This article is qualified: "The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary."

It is generally considered that consequences for supporting proscribed terrorist organisations are acceptable and necessary in a democratic society.

Interesting she says that the words have been taken out of context. It is the context that makes them appear outrageous. The words themselves are of feeling pride and joy for Palestinian actions of resistance. The context that makes this awful is the brutality of the attacks on 7 October - the pride and joy is over the massacres and over the brutal rapes of women.

Pride and joy indeed 😡🤬
She poses a ‘National threat’ so yes, good riddance I say 👋

It’s easy to say that words have been taken out of context, but much more difficult to deny the expression and delivery of those words. She seems almost euphoric.

If it was taken out of context- what is she full of joy about?

Yep, she can fuck right off.

Brilliantly put.

The visa application form quite clearly asks if you have ever, or currently do, support a terrorist organisation. She obviously wasn't truthful about that when she applied, and now her visa has been revoked. Quite right too.

My heart goes out to the Palestinian people, and I am vocal about their plight. I have family who live in Palestine (not the Gaza Strip). But equally, I am shocked and appalled by what was done to the Israelis on 7 October, especially those young girls.

Freedom of speech DOES generally mean freedom from consequence (at least “official” consequence, you can’t stop people disagreeing with you) as otherwise speech is not free, but we are not America and there are limits to free speech as @Precipice describes.

This woman’s attitude to the rape and murder of women seem incompatible with being granted the privilege of a UK visa.

“Fuck around, find out” as I think they say.

Is she Palestinian? Sorry, can't access twitter at work. I saw headlines this morning and can't remember - but if so surely she can claim asylum? She can't be deported to a war zone?

She is here on a student visa. The day after Hamas massacred 1,200 people in Israel, raped Israeli women and took others hostage she said: she was “really full of joy” and “proud that Palestinian resistance has come to this point.' As @Zimunya said, she had to declare on her visa application that she doesn't support terrorism yet clearly supports Hamas which is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK. I see no reason why she should be allowed to stay in the UK.

Though I guess she can still have her student visa be revoked and then just join all the other asylum seekers/refugees but won't be allowed to work or study?

Pride and joy and what Hamas did, really?
Is she proud of all the raping?
Proud about all the children they killed?
Does it bring her joy to see young people at a music festival murdered?
I hope she loses her appeal and is deported. And she can fuck right off with her whinging about being picked on.

The Gaza Strip is unsafe. Nothing wrong with sending her to the West Bank to "celebrate" at home.

Wasn't she Australian anyway?

I can’t get upset 😢 ver this. She is here on a visa so by permission of the U.K. government.

I’m glad she’s had her visa revoked! Ta-ta 👋

Noone has the right to be here if they are not a citizen, it is a privilege. Can't see her being deported as we have a very weak govt.

Maybe they won’t need to deport her. If she has no student visa she gets no finance. So if Australian she’ll probably just go home with no degree potentially. I won’t lose sleep over that.

I think this is a good decision.

Yes absolutely right. She is supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation - that is illegal in this country.

Again and again on the discussions about this conflict we have been told that Pro-Palestinian supporters are not supporters of Hamas, are not supporters of the rape, mutilation & murder of Israelis (& others) on 7 October but peaceful. How many examples do the contrary do we need? She is speaking clearly & calmly. She is not caught up in the passion of an argument when anyone can say something intemperate.

Thats because the case of Russia invading Ukraine unprovoked is completed different to Israel responding to an act of war from Hamas. It is in fact the opposite of a double standard. Putting aside the question of 'genocide' which has not been adjudicated on, UK is not taking part in Israeli action in Gaza.