A Palestinian refugee denied a visa to study a PhD in the UK has told of her frustration at having to put her career on hold as a result of “injustice” from the Home Office.
Amena El Ashkar was offered a full scholarship to undertake a doctorate in international relations at the London School of Economics (LSE), but her student visa was rejected by the UK government without any reason or explanation in December 2022. She had previously completed a master’s degree at SOAS University of London after being awarded a Chevening scholarship by the Foreign Office.
James Cleverley, the home secretary, has since issued an “unqualified apology” after a subsequent judicial review was mishandled, and a judge found the government’s action to have been “unlawful”.
While she waits for a new decision on her visa application, which is expected at the end of the month, Ms El Ashkar is working as a research assistant in Qatar on a temporary contract.
