Irish artists call on Taoiseach to intervene over refusal of study visas for Gaza students

Móglaí Bap and Mo Chara during Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury last year. 

Kneecap, Hozier, Aisling Bea, Siobhán McSweeney, and Christy Moore are among several prominent Irish voices calling on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to intervene on behalf of 55 Gazan students refused study visas.

They are among a dozen initial signatories from across arts, culture and public life who have signed an open letter, published in today's Irish Examiner, asking Mr Martin to “do the decent thing” by the students, all of whom have secured fully funded scholarships in Irish universities.

Last year, the Irish embassy in Tel Aviv processed Palestinian study visa applications, refusing 13% of them.

So far this year, the Department of Justice has refused 114 out of 138 applications, a refusal rate of 83%.

Of those refused this year, 55 are from the Gaza Strip. 

The main reason given for visa refusal is insufficient documentation, but students argue they cannot access all of their personal information because civilian infrastructure no longer exists in Gaza.

In their letter, the Irish celebrities quote Mr Martin's words to the United Nations last month, when he said the collective international community had failed Palestine. They urge him to intervene on the students’ part.

“You have the power to act, to stay true to our principles and promises, and grant these young Palestinians the opportunity of an education far from the rubble of Gaza,” they said.

The letter adds the students are not taking anyone else’s place and have passed rigorous vetting.

“They provided every document available to them in a warzone, and yet the minister for justice is refusing to grant them study visas. They are caught in a breakdown of co-ordination between Government departments that they did nothing to cause.” 

A legal challenge taken by a Palestinian student refused a visa is currently before the High Court, with its outcome potentially affecting 38 similar lawsuits.

Lawyers representing a 20-year-old engineering student, who was granted a scholarship at University College Cork, are arguing the refusal was unlawful on several grounds.

The State is opposing the student’s judicial review challenge.

A decision on the case is expected from Mr Justice Anthony Barr next week.