UK revokes Turkish academic’s visa over possession of Hamas document

A Turkish academic working at a British university has had his UK visa revoked by the British government after police discovered a widely circulated Hamas media document on his phone during a Schedule 7 airport stop, the Middle East Eye reported on February 13th.

The man, referred to in court documents only as AA and whose identity is protected for legal reasons, said he had been informed that his visa had been cancelled during a family visit to Turkey, months after the initial stop when his phone was taken.

AA is now appealing against the loss of his residency status, saying his promising academic career has been restricted, along with his family’s intentions to create a life in the UK.

The Turkish academic has studied and worked in the UK since 2020 and had been granted a Global Talent visa and “Leave to Remain” status by the Home Office after finishing a PhD. AA regarded by his university as the best in his year in just two-and-a-half years.

“When they took my visa, I had no idea why they took it from me. I had a global talent visa and gave me no explanation why,” AA told Middle East Eye from Turkey.

“Not only has this impacted my academic and professional life, but my wife was also forced to shut down her UK-based business because she could not verify her address in the UK,” he added.

AA said that for for six hours he was kept in the airport and was questioned by police about his academic career as well as his thoughts on Hamas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Iran.

Police confiscated AA’s phone without further questioning, saying it would be returned in two working days. But he said he only got his phone back four months later. During the time his phone was taken, he said he was not contacted by authorities or asked any further questions.

While AA was in Turkey in July, he was informed via email by the Home Office that his UK visa had been revoked, as his presence in the UK was deemed to not be beneficial for the public. Upon appealing, he learnt that the decision was based on police findings that he had forwarded a Hamas media document called “Our Narrative: Operation Al Aqsa Flood,” which explained the group’s intent for the October 7th attacks on Israel.

Middle East Eye