Dana Abu Qamar, a 19-year-old Palestinian law student at the University of Manchester and leader of the Manchester Friends of Palestine is facing severe state repression as the British Home Secretary revokes her student visa after expressing support for Palestinian rights in a 55-second interview on October 8, 2023.
With the help of the European Legal Support Center (ELSC), Dana has launched a human rights appeal against the Home Office’s arbitrary and racist decision. We urgently need your help to raise funds to cover the legal and other expenses associated with the appeal.
On 1st of December 2023, the UK Home Office revoked Dana's student visa on grounds that her presence in the UK is "not conducive to the public good" following an interview in which she advocated for the right of Palestinians to resist occupation in accordance with international law. Dana was subsequently placed under several restrictive conditions and was presented with the ultimatum to leave the country voluntarily or face potential deportation.
Dana's brave decision to challenge the lawfulness of the Home Office's profoundly destructive and authoritarian attempt to silence and punish Palestinian voices sends a strong message. Students must assert their rights to freedom of speech and expression and resist all attempts to stifle legitimate discourse on critical issues.
Winning this case is crucial; it is a pivotal moment for the protecting and restoring of Dana’s rights, the Palestine solidarity movement, and upholding the fundamental principles of freedom of speech and expression in the UK for all those fighting for a just and free world.
When movements rise, state repression escalates: As the Free Palestine movement shows no signs of slowing down, state repression only intensifies in its wake. Now more than ever, we must maintain unwavering focus and harness every available pathway to resist. Let us continue to leverage all avenues at our disposal in service of emancipatory struggles.
How can you help?
Appeals such as this cost money! We currently need to raise at least £15,000 to cover the costs required for Dana to see this case through to the end. These include court and lawyer fees amongst other expenses associated with seeing this case through.
Please consider contributing to this important cause. Any amount, big or small, can help support the defendant, and on a larger scale, ensure that academic freedom and the right to free speech remain upheld and protected at our universities.
Any funds left over after covering the legal expenses will be dedicated to other ongoing cases of state repression against students and free speech in the UK.
You can also support by sharing this page on your social media channels and within your personal networks.
It's time for us to stand in solidarity and take action!
Why Your Support Matters:
Across the UK, scholars, students, and student organisations who bravely spoke out in support of Palestinian liberation or raised their voices against Israel's actions in Gaza, have faced a barrage of vilification in the media and online threats. Shockingly, an increasing number of individuals are now confronting very serious disciplinary and legal actions, including visa refusals, revocations, and counter-terrorism charges. This crackdown disproportionately affects the most marginalised members of our community, including Palestinian, Muslim, and women of colour scholars and students.
This alarming trend is exacerbated by recent announcements from UK government officials that further restrict free speech and the right to protest. The chilling effect is undeniable, and it builds upon the existing Prevent strategy, which disproportionately targets communities of colour, especially Muslims, while stifling progressive dissent.
We need to act in solidarity, united against state repression of free speech!