The Home Office initially revoked the visa of a Palestinian law student at Manchester University, following comments she made about the Palestinian attacks on 7 October 2023.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) had reported Dana Abuqamar to the police in October 2023 after she had said she was “full of pride” and “full of joy” at a pro-Palestinian protest in Manchester on Sunday 8 October. This was the day following the horrific massacre led by Hamas, when over 1200 people were slaughtered, raped, mutilated and burnt, and over 240 taken hostage.

She also said: “We are proud that the Palestinian resistance has come to this point”.

Ms Abuqamar was Media and Diversity officer for the University of Manchester Bar and Advocacy Society and head of the Manchester Friends of Palestine group

UKLFI’s report to the counter terrorism police pointed out that Ms Abuqamar had expressed an opinion or belief supportive of Hamas, being reckless as to whether persons to whom the expression was directed would be encouraged to support Hamas, in breach of s.12(1A) of the Terrorism Act 2000.

UKLFI also reported Ms Abuqamar to Manchester University, pointing out that any Jewish or Israeli students who saw Ms. Abuqamar’s triumphant comments, following the massacre of Israelis that took place on 7 October, would be fearful for their safety in her presence.

Manchester University responded “…the University is taking appropriate action to investigate this matter. The University has also engaged with appropriate external agencies.”

Following a hearing at the First Tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) on 26-27 September 2024,  Ms Abuqamar won her appeal against the Home Office decision to revoke her visa. The Tribunal accepted her evidence that when she made her various remarks at 4.28pm on 7 October 2023 and around 1pm and 2.40pm on 8 October 2023, expressing support for the Palestinian “uprising”, she was unaware of the involvement of Hamas and of any Palestinian atrocities – even though these were reported extensively in UK media and on social media from the morning of 7 October 2023 onwards.

In these circumstances, the Panel concluded that “removal of the Appellant in consequence of the decision to cancel her permission to enter the UK amounts to a disproportionate interference with her protected right to free speech pursuant to Article 10 of the ECHR and is therefore unlawful under s.6 of the Human Rights Act 1998.” 

The full decision can be seen HERE